The Lagos High Court on Monday resumed trial concerning the death of Super TV CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga, with the second defendant, Adedapo Quadri, undergoing further cross-examination.
Quadri is being tried alongside Chidinma Ojukwu and Chioma Egbuchu before Justice Yetunde Adesanya in connection with Ataga’s death in June 2021.
Led by prosecuting counsel Y.A. Sule, the cross-examination focused on statements made by Quadri to the police, particularly in Exhibits P32 and P33.
Quadri confirmed that Exhibit P33 was dated July 17, 2021, but said he could not recall the exact date of his arrest, stating only that it occurred in 2021.
When questioned about alleged requests by Ojukwu to procure documents, Quadri initially denied receiving specific instructions. However, after being confronted with a portion of his written statement, he acknowledged that Ojukwu had contacted him in 2021 to help obtain a University of Lagos identity card, driver’s licence, statement of account and international passport, which he said he facilitated through a contact.
He, however, denied receiving payment for procuring the documents, maintaining that the only money transferred to him was for items he described as “ruffles.”
Under re-examination by his counsel, Mrs. T.A. Busari, Quadri clarified discrepancies in dates regarding earlier statements, attributing inconsistencies to the circumstances under which they were made. The court declined further clarification on the difference in dates between the two statements tendered in evidence.
Justice Adesanya adjourned the case until April 20 and 22, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
At the previous sitting, Quadri denied any involvement in Ataga’s death, stating that he had never met the deceased and only learned of the incident after his arrest.
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