Magistrate Adeola Adedayo of the Yaba Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, has ordered the remand of Chidinma Ojukwu, who allegedly stabbed the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga, to death.
The magistrate ordered the remand of Ojukwu for 30 days following an application of the police counsel, Cyril Ejiofor. Ojukwu and Ataga, who were lovers, lodged in a service apartment in the Lekki area of Lagos State, as the corpse of the latter was discovered the next day in the room.
The 21-year-old fled, thus raising suspicion of her complicity in the murder. Upon her arrest, the suspect confessed to the crime and blamed her action on the influence of hard drugs and alcohol.
The police on Monday brought Ojukwu and one Adedapo Quadri before the court, as Ejiofor applied for their remand pending the release of legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
He said, “The remand is to enable the DPP to come up with legal advice. We pray for the remand of the defendants for the first 30 days in the first instance.”
Ojukwu’s counsel, Babajide Martins, who is the Director of the Office of the Public Defender, did not oppose the application.
He said, “I have just been privileged to get a copy of the remand application. I have not been able to go through it; my learned friend’s application is inevitable. I would have been happier if I was obliged of the application earlier. The application will not be opposed, in principle.”
Adedapo Quadri had no legal representation.
Ruling on the application of the police counsel, Adedayo said, “In the absence of any opposition, the two defendants are hereby remanded for 30 days in the first instance. The case is adjourned till September 5, for review of remand/DPP’s advice.”