The Lagos State High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has heard that Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged killer of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, allegedly had a sexual relationship with her foster father, Onoh Ojukwu.
A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Olusegun Bamidele made the claim during a trial within trial to determine whether the court should admit the confessional statement Miss Ojukwu allegedly made in police custody.
The proceedings followed Ms Ojukwu’s contention during proceedings on October 27 that she did not make a confessional statement voluntarily, rather that they were obtained from her by the police under duress and by inducement.
Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), is standing trial for the alleged murder with her sister and third defendant Chioma Egbuchu, and second defendant Adedapo Quadri.
The trio is also charged with stealing and forgery.
The defendants have been on trial since October 12, 2021, following their arraignment before Justice Yetunde Adesanya.
According to the Lagos State Government which is prosecuting them, the murder took place on June 15, 2021, at a short-let apartment on No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The defendants denied the charge.
At the resumed hearing, of the case yesterday, prosecution counsel T. E. Onalaja led the ninth prosecution witness Bamidele, in evidence.
Under cross-examination by Miss Ojukwu’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu, the witness testified that the police received intelligence that there was an amorous relationship between daughter and foster father.
The witness narrated how Chidinma was arrested and how she was interrogated, adding that he was not around when she was arrested.
He clarified that two others were arrested with Chidinma when his team visited the defendant’s home at No. 25 Akinwumi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba.
He said: “That night on June 23, 2021, the first team that visited came back with three persons. The first defendant Chidinma Ojukwu, her foster father Onoh Ojukwu and an under-aged girl. Those were the people I saw.
“I was in the second team that visited the address that night”.
He testified that Miss Ojukwu was paraded on June 24, at the State Command, Ikeja.
Asked if he was aware that before the parade the first defendant and her foster father had an interaction with the Commissioner of Police’s office, Bamidele said he was not aware.
When asked to confirm that Mr. Ojukwu was re-arrested on July 25 and kept in detention till August 19, 2021, the DSP affirmed.
As to what Mr Ojukwu and the 10-year-old were doing in Police custody, the witness answered that Mr. Ojukwu said he was embarrassed by what his “daughter” did and offered to assist in the investigation.
He said: “Mr. Ojukwu was not kept in the cell, he was kept in a protective room and he received and saw off visitors at will.
“In the course of him staying with us, we stumbled on intelligence that there was an amorous relationship between the first defendant and her foster father and that given that Mr Ojukwu was not sincere, that he was aware of the offence that the first defendant is standing trial today, that she was concealing the real information.
“We also established that the mother of the first defendant never approved the custody of the first defendant to Mr. Ojukwu.
“It was on this basis that we charged him to court alongside the three defendants at the Magistrate Court so that the court can decide if he can get bail, including one Babalola.”
The Nation reports that Mr. Ojukwu, 58, and Mr. Babalola Disu, 43, were arraigned by the State Criminal Investigative and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti, on September 9, 2021, before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged obstruction of justice and failing to report a crime to the law enforcement agencies.
They pleaded not guilty.
Justice Adesanya adjourned till November, 10, for continuation of trial within trial.