Super TV CEO’s ‘murder’: Chidinma’s father arraigned, granted N1m bail

Onoh Ojukwu, father of Chidinma, the alleged murderer of Usifo Ataga, Super TV CEO, was on Monday arraigned before a magistrate court sitting in Yaba, Lagos state.

According to NAN, Ojukwu and four others were brought before the court over alleged obstruction of justice and failing to report a crime to the law enforcement agencies.

The 57-year-old and Babalola Disu were charged for allegedly preventing the police from performing their duties and not reporting the crime.

The three other defendants — Jessica Egbochi, 28; Abayomi Olutayo, 23; and Ifeoluwa Olowu, 23 — were also charged for “dishonestly receiving stolen items”.

During the court session, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Cyril Ejiofor, the prosecutor from the state criminal investigative and intelligence department (SCIID), Panti, had earlier told the court that the defendants committed the offences on June 18 and 23, at Computer Village in Ikeja, and Alagomeji, Yaba.

He alleged that Ojukwu had refused the police from arresting Chidinma when the law caught up with her.

Ejiofor also claimed that the second defendant, Disu, had failed to report the death of Ataga to the police.

“The other three defendants were also alleged to have dishonestly received a MacBook valued at N2.5 million and an iPhone 7 worth N150,000 belonging to the deceased,” he said.

Ejiofor said that the offences contravened sections 97,117,328 and 411 of the criminal law of Lagos state, 2015.

In her ruling, Adeola Adedayo, the chief magistrate, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties each in like sum.

Adedayo added that the sureties must make a deposit of N20,000 into the coffers of the chief registrar.

The chief magistrate thereafter adjourned the case until September 6 for mention.

The development comes at about the same time when the court ordered that Chidinma should be remanded in prison for 30 days.