Crime
Murder trial: I found Ataga in pool of blood, says Chidinma
Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ataga, on Thursday, told a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square how she discovered Ataga’s lifeless body in a Lekki short-let apartment on June 15, 2021.
Testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, the former 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos said she had returned from buying food and juice, knocked on the apartment door and, receiving no response, pushed it open to find blood on the floor and Ataga lying in a pool of blood.
“I dropped everything and rushed to him,” she said. “His eyes were half-shut and he had no pulse.”
Chidinma is standing trial for murder, conspiracy to murder, and stealing, alongside co-defendants Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.
Led in evidence by her counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, Chidinma detailed her relationship with Ataga, which she said began in November 2020 through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James.
Describing Ataga as kind and supportive, she said he paid her school fees and financially supported her cosmetics business, Unseal Zone International, located on Murtala Mohammed Way.
She told the court that Ataga was from Edo State, lived in Victoria Garden City, worked in the media industry, and had three children with his estranged wife, who lived in Abuja.
Chidinma recounted that on June 13, 2021, while cooking at home, she received a call from Ataga.
After exchanging pleasantries, he told her his birthday was that Friday and invited her to spend time with him ahead of a planned family celebration.
According to her, Ataga said he would travel to Abuja to celebrate with his family, but wanted to mark it privately with her first and she agreed.
“He said the house at VGC was under construction and unavailable. I asked where we would go, and he suggested a hotel or apartment. I said he should be able to get one easily at VGC, but he preferred Lekki because of meetings he had scheduled,” she said.
She added that Ataga preferred an apartment to a hotel for a more homely feel and asked her to search for one.
“I couldn’t find a suitable apartment, but later, he sent me the address of one on 19, Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki,” she testified.
Chidinma said she arrived at the apartment around 6 p.m. on June 13 and was eventually joined by Ataga.
“When I arrived, I didn’t see anyone around. I knocked on what looked like a security post but got no response. I texted Michael that I had arrived. He told me to wait. Shortly after, a short man with a Northern accent arrived and introduced himself as Abu,” she said.
He showed her the apartment, which she inspected before calling Ataga to confirm it was suitable.
Ataga joined her shortly afterwards, and they went to Ango Villa restaurant to eat and pick up takeout.
“He said he had only one stick of loud (cannabis) left and asked if I had a supplier. I said yes and contacted Quadri, asking him to deliver the loud and Rohypnol. I sent him the location,” she said, adding that Ataga sent her N15,000 for the loud and later N25,000 for food.
She said she was out for about two hours buying food due to COVID-related delays.
She added that the next day, June 15, Ataga again requested cocaine but asked Chidinma to pay as he was unable to make a transfer.
He also gave her money to buy food and juice.
“After some difficulty getting okro soup and failing to reach him, I returned to the apartment and found him dead,” she told the court.
“I saw blood on the floor and pushed the door open. Michael was lying on the ground, covered in blood, his eyes half-shut. I dropped everything and rushed to him.”
She said she checked his chest for a pulse but found none.
In a panic, she wiped blood off her arm, changed into a black top over her red blouse, and packed her belongings.
“I stood there thinking of what to do but couldn’t come up with anything. I took my blood-stained bag, clothes from the wardrobe, jewellery from the TV stand, and a brown envelope.
“I left the room with the food I had bought and sat on the stairs. I called the cab that dropped me off earlier and waited. When he called to say he was at the gate, I put on the black top over the red one, kept my head down, and entered the car.”
She told the court that when she got home, she opened the envelope and found documents including Ataga’s bank statements, ID cards, and business cards, as well as one bearing the name Mary Johnson.
She added that one of the cards might have been a driver’s license or voter’s card but she couldn’t tell.
Following her testimony, Justice Adesanya adjourned the case until April 28, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.
Chidinma is charged alongside Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.
Two police officers have been killed after suspected armed herders ambushed the convoy of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ayilamo, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The latest attack occurred on Monday evening, barely four days after another deadly incident in the community reportedly left four policemen and seven residents dead.
Community sources said the DPO had travelled to Makurdi on official duty and was returning to Ayilamo when his entourage came under attack.
One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victims were among newly deployed Mobile Police officers stationed in the area.
He said the officers were attacked at about 6pm while travelling from Ayilamo to escort the DPO back to the community from Makurdi.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, said two officers attached to the DPO’s entourage were killed in the attack.
“The DPO came to Makurdi to collect some things, and while returning to Ayilamo, he was attacked and lost two of his men in the attack,” Aondongu said.
The latest incident has raised fresh concerns over the security situation in Ayilamo, where repeated attacks have resulted in casualties among security personnel and residents.
The Nigeria Police Force has placed its formations nationwide on red alert following intelligence reports of planned terrorist attacks on worship centres, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other public places.
The alert followed fresh intelligence indicating increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks on vulnerable targets across the country.
Police authorities also reportedly received intelligence on the movement of armed elements from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.
The operational order was contained in a police wireless message dated September 13, 2026, with reference number CB: 0900/FDPS/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL38/68, issued by the Department of Operations at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Marked “Security General” and tagged “Treat as Very Important,” the message was circulated to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police overseeing Zones 1–17, Mobile Police formations, counter-terrorism and other specialised units, as well as Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The police directed formations to intensify vigilance and take proactive measures to prevent criminal and terrorist elements from carrying out attacks.
The warning specifically highlighted places of worship, educational institutions, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable public locations as potential targets.
A 16-year-old boy, Favour Ayogu, who was allegedly abducted in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, has been rescued in Onitsha, Anambra State, after his abductors reportedly abandoned him near a security checkpoint.
Ayogu was rescued on the evening of September 13, 2026, by a joint security patrol team operating along Oguta Road, Onitsha.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, the teenager was found at Ekene Junction after unidentified persons reportedly pushed him out of a black Toyota Highlander SUV close to a security checkpoint.
The patrol team immediately intervened and rescued the victim, thereby preventing what the police described as further danger to his life.
Following the rescue, the Command said it had intensified surveillance and intelligence-led operations to identify and apprehend members of the suspected criminal gang responsible for the abduction.
The police also appealed to residents of Igboeze South and Ibagwa-Aka in Enugu State who may have useful information about Ayogu or his family to contact the nearest police station or the Anambra State Police Command in Awka.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, commended the security personnel involved in the rescue and directed officers to sustain strategic checkpoints, intelligence-led patrols and coordinated security operations across the state.
The Command assured residents and visitors that it would continue to intensify efforts to prevent criminal elements from using Anambra as a safe haven.
At least nine passengers have been killed after gunmen opened fire on a commercial bus at Dungus Junction in Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack reportedly occurred around 9:40 p.m. when the bus, which was travelling towards Jos, stopped at the junction to drop off some passengers.
Several other passengers were reportedly injured in the attack and rushed to hospitals for treatment.
Lawan Suleiman, a neighbour and teacher of one of the victims, identified the driver as Ibrahim and said three of the victims were from his community in Bukuru.
“The driver is Ibrahim and he was my student. Three of them are from our community here in Bukuru. Their bodies have been deposited at the hospital. But relatives are preparing to collect them for burial,” Suleiman said.
The bus was reportedly riddled with bullets, with bloodstains visible inside the vehicle after the attack.
Rwang Tengwong, spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders (BYM), also confirmed the incident, saying the victims were passengers travelling to Jos when the attackers opened fire on the vehicle.
Tengwong said one of those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow.
“The incident happened around 9.40 p.m. The victims were all passengers travelling to Jos when the terrorists opened fire on the vehicle. Among those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow. It is a very sad development and we lament the loss of lives,” he said.
He added that some passengers sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to hospitals, while some of the injured reportedly later died.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over the safety of commuters travelling along the route at night amid continuing security challenges in parts of Plateau State.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The Enugu State Police Command has ordered an investigation into two separate incidents of alleged disruption of political gatherings in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.
The incidents reportedly occurred on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Ndiuno-Obuoffia community and St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to thoroughly investigate the incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
According to the statement, armed hoodlums allegedly disrupted a National Democratic Congress (NDC) ward meeting at Ndiuno-Obuoffia with sporadic gunshots, leaving two attendees injured.
In a separate incident at St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani, hoodlums allegedly destroyed canopies and chairs arranged for a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally.
The police said operatives were promptly deployed to both locations after receiving reports of the incidents to prevent further breaches of peace and track down the fleeing suspects.
The Command, however, noted that neither of the political gatherings had been formally brought to the attention of the police for security coverage.
CP Giwa reiterated his warning that all political activities in the state must be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.
He stressed that electoral offences are punishable under the law and warned political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders against violence, intimidation, destruction of property and other acts capable of disrupting public peace or the electoral process.
The Commissioner urged political parties and other stakeholders to notify the police ahead of campaigns, meetings, rallies and other political gatherings to enable the Command to make adequate security arrangements.
He assured residents that the police would continue to maintain a peaceful and secure environment for lawful political activities while dealing decisively with anyone found violating the law.
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