Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday, ordered Chidinma Ojukwu’s co-defendants to open their defence.
Chidinma, Adedapo Quadri, and Chioma Egbuchu are on trial for the murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer Michael Usifo Ataga.
Chidinma and Quadri face up to eight counts of conspiracy, murder, and stabbing, while her sister, Egbuchu, is charged with conspiracy.
The two were accused of conspiring to murder Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him multiple times in the neck and chest with a knife.
The incident occurred at 19 Adewale Oshin Street in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
At the trial’s resumed hearing on Thursday, the second and third defendants, who had previously submitted a no-case filing contesting the trial, sought the court to dismiss all accusations against them.
The second defendant’s counsel, Babatunde Busari, and the third defendant’s counsel, M.I. Otuaka, contended that the prosecution had failed to present any relevant evidence that would allow their clients to enter a defence in the case.
Yusuf Sule, the state’s prosecutor, objected to the submission and asked the court to dismiss the second defendant’s no-case submission application.
He said, “The prosecution has put forward material evidence linking the second defendant to the charges against him. We call upon him to enter his defence.”
“In response to the third defendant’s application, the prosecution filed a response on November 27, 2024, as per the argument in response to this case. We urge the court to dismiss the application for a no-case submission as the prosecution has established material evidence of a stolen phone in the case.
“We, however, call upon the third defendant to enter her defence.”
After hearing counsel’s arguments, Justice Yetunde Adesanya dismissed the second and third defendants’ no-case submissions.
She told them to open their defence. As a result, the judge delayed the case to February 20, 2025, to continue the trial.
