Matilda Omonaiye/
A 20-year-old girl arrested for the June 15 murder of SuperTV boss, Michael Usifo Ataga, in Lagos, has told why she committed the crime.
Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu told reporters at a police parade that she stabbed the 49-year-old man twice in the neck and once in the stomach after she had been on hard drugs.
Chidinma who claimed to be a 300 level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, allegedly murdered Atanga, at Short Service Apartment, 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki, Phase 1, in Lagos.
During her parade by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, Chidinma said she was introduced to Ataga four months ago by her friend, adding that they used to meet at his residence at Victoria Garden City (VGC).
Chidinma said that she told her parents on the day of the incident that she was going for an ushering job and would spend some days there.
She said: “We used to meet at his residence in VGC but that day, he said he was doing maintenance in the house and opted that we met at an apartment. I went online to search for the apartment and went there to do a physical inspection. I got to the hotel
around 6 pm and he came about an hour later.
“We were having fun; drinking, smoking, and taking drugs. On Monday, we were together, drinking and smoking. We smoked SK and Loud. We had fun and so I went to get food for both of us and then on Tuesday, he was trying to make advances which I told him I was tired. I was already sleepy then he became violent on me and he got his way which I let him.
“Then towards afternoon, we ordered for smoke and I wasn’t happy with the first one that he did so I was still on my own just smoking and drinking with my food. He too was on his own on the couch so he came onto me while we were both watching the movie and I told him I was not happy with what he did. I told him he didn’t help me or assist in anything, but he keeps playing me around, and then he gave me his ATM card to go and withdraw whatever I want and told me his pin.
“I was like that’s not what I meant so he became violent trying to get to me and I was resisting and defending myself and at some point, he hit my head on the wall I was struggling to go out but he was stopping me. He even locked the door and he was with the key. I didn’t know where he kept it, so when I get the door he would draw me back and I also retaliated.
“At some point, he was choking me while I was on the kitchen cabinet and then I stretched out to the knife and stabbed his neck twice.
“When I stabbed him I threw the knife on the bed then he was going for it while I went for it as well. I laid on the bed, that’s when he came on me to hold the knife and I managed to stab him in the stomach.
“When he dragged the knife, he managed to slice my hand and as he was holding it, the knife broke so it slipped from his hand but he was weak and he fell on the floor. While he was lying there, I changed, I looked for the key where he hid and I left the room.”
The police claimed that about N5million had been withdrawn from the victim’s account, but Chidinma admitted she withdrew about N380,000 from Ataga’s account which she planned to use as school fees before she was arrested.
Addressing reporters, Odumosu said a driver’s license, complimentary cards, Access Bank Statement of Account, a Nigerian International Passport with No.B50010434 were retrieved from the suspects.
He said a fake driver’s license bearing Mary Johnson with the suspect’s photograph, a National Identification Card bearing the suspect’s name, one UBA ATM debit card bearing the suspect’s name, and one University of Lagos ID card bearing the suspect’s name were also recovered.
Giving facts of the case, Odumosu said: “A case of murder was transferred from Maroko Division to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti Yaba, for discreet investigation. The fact of the case is that, on June 15, at about 5 pm, one Chidimma Adaora Ojukwu, a 300 level, undergraduate of the University of Lagos, Conspired with others, now at Large, allegedly murdered one
Michael Usifo Ataga, 50, by stabbing him several times with a sharp object.
“The prime suspect, Chidinma, who had earlier booked for the apartment on June 13, secretly, left the apartment after the deed had been done on June 15, around 5:30 pm. The suspect was tracked and arrested in her residence at 57, Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba-Lagos.
“During the search, the prime suspect and Mass Communication Student of the University of Lagos was caught with a blood-soaked cloth, ostensibly worn on the day of the incident. The suspect confessed to have stabbed the deceased with a kitchen knife after a struggle.
“She further confessed to have taken the knife away while leaving the scene and disposed same in a dust bin at her residence. It has also been revealed that the suspect equally stole the deceased iPhone. The investigation is ongoing to arrest other accomplices. However, the case will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”
“We were having fun; drinking, smoking, and taking drugs. On Monday, we were together, drinking and smoking. We smoked SK and Loud. We had fun and so I went to get food for both of us and then on Tuesday, he was trying to make advances which I told him I was tired. I was already sleepy then he became violent on me and he got his way which I let him.