"I Was Scared": Murd3r suspect Chidinma Ojukwu Opens Up About Super TV CEO's Death

 

In a gripping courtroom testimony that unfolded at the Lagos State High Court, Chidinma Ojukwu, the University of Lagos student accused of killing Super TV CEO Michael Ataga, shared her side of the story one filled with fear, confusion, and regret.

On Monday 28th of April, before Justice Yetunde Adesanya at Tafawa Balewa Square, Chidinma broke her silence, explaining why she never reported Ataga’s death to the police. Her reason? Fear of being falsely accused a fear, she said, that many Nigerians understand all too well.

“I didn’t mean to leave you in that state. I was very scared,” she revealed in a message she sent to Ataga after finding him lifeless, covered in blood.

Now in her defense phase, Chidinma, a 300-level student, is standing trial alongside co-defendants Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu. The trio face nine counts, including murder, theft, and forgery charges stemming from Ataga’s shocking death in June 2021.

In court, Chidinma recounted the chilling events surrounding Ataga’s final hours. She said she noticed that his WhatsApp was still active even after seeing his motionless body. Panic set in. Her calls went unanswered. Something wasn’t right.

She tried contacting the apartment’s gateman, but the anxiety overwhelmed her, and she ended the call. When she did reach the gateman later, he first claimed Ataga had left. But then admitted the CEO’s car was still parked at the residence.

In what appeared to be an attempt to continue with daily life, Chidinma testified that she took two laptops, an HP and a MacBook to Lagos’s popular Computer Village. She claimed the MacBook was a gift, which she sold for ₦495,000. Days later, her sister Chioma arrived in Lagos, and Chidinma gave her an old iPhone 7 Plus to replace the one she had lost earlier.

But by June 23, the story took a darker turn when Chidinma and her father were arrested and taken to Panti. In her testimony, she said she was denied access to legal counsel and pressured into writing a new statement by police officer Bamidele.

“He threatened to arrest my entire family, including my 10-year-old sister,” she told the court.

She also alleged that Bamidele tore up her original statement and presented her with graphic crime scene images, trying to pin specific evidence like a robe allegedly used to tie Ataga on her. Chidinma denied it belonged to her.

“Michael was a huge man,” she said. “I couldn’t have tied him up.”

The case, which has captivated the public for nearly four years, continues to unfold in court. With each testimony, more layers are revealed not just about the incident itself, but about the larger issues of justice, fear, and the vulnerability of youth caught in life-altering circumstances.

As the legal battle proceeds, Nigerians watch closely, hoping for clarity, truth, and justice in a case that still echoes with unanswered questions.