BY FOLASHADE KEHINDE
A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded Chidinma Ojukwu, 21, and one Adedapo Quadri, in prison custody for 30 days over the alleged murder of Super TV boss, Usifo Ataga.
The court also arraigned Chidinma’s father, Onoh Ojukwu, and four others, for alleged obstruction of justice and failing to report a crime to law enforcement agencies.
Chidinma, 21, was accused of murdering Ataga in a service apartment in Lekki area of Lagos State.
Magistrate Adeola Adedayo remanded Chidinma, a 300-Level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, following an application by prosecuting counsel, Cyril Ejioffor. The same thing goes for Quadri. They have been remanded, pending legal advice by the Department of Public Prosecution.
Ejiofor’s application was filed under Section 264 (1) (2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
“We pray for the remand of the defendants for the first 30 days in the first instance,” he said.
Director, Office of the Public Defender, OPD, Babajide Martins, who represented Chidinma, said, “I have just been privileged to get a copy of the remand application but I have not been able to go through it. My learned friend’s application is inevitable but I would have been happier if I was obliged of the application earlier. The application will not be opposed, in principle.”
While granting the prayers of the prosecutor, Magistrate Adedayo said, “In the absence of any opposition, the two defendants are hereby remanded for 30 days, for the first instance.”
She adjourned the case till September 5, 2021 for remand review and DPP’s legal advice.
In the charge against Chidinma’s father, the police alleged that Ojukwu, 57, and Babalola Disu, 42, allegedly obstructed the police from performing their duties and also failing to report a crime to the police.
The three other defendants – Jessica Egbochi, 28; Abayomi Olutayo, 23; and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23, were accused of dishonestly receiving stolen items. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
