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.
ENUGU — The Enugu State Police Command says it has arrested five male suspects in separate operations across the state and recovered three firearms, six rounds of live ammunition and other exhibits.
The Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, 2026, by its Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe.
According to the statement, police operatives attached to Inyi Division responded to a distress call about an armed robbery at Umuaor, Umukabia Isiama Awlaw Community, Oji-River Local Government Area, at about 5:10 a.m. on October 7.
One suspect, identified as 26-year-old Arinze Osita Onwuaso, was arrested while other suspects reportedly fled the scene. Police said they recovered a locally made cut-to-size single-barrel gun, two live cartridges, a pry-bar, hammer, scissors and chisel from him.
In a separate operation on October 5, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Section of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested two suspected cultists, 24-year-old Jonas Adejo, also known as J-Money, and 25-year-old Okoro Innocent, also known as Virus, at Umudioka Community in Nsukka.
Three live rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered from the suspects. Police said the two men confessed during interrogation to membership of the Supreme Vikings Confraternity.
Meanwhile, on September 25, operatives of Aninri Division, working with members of the Neighborhood Watch Group, raided a suspected criminal hideout at Amagu Mpu Community in Aninri LGA.
The operation led to the arrest of 25-year-old Anichebe Ogbonna, from whom police said one locally made pistol was recovered.
Similarly, on September 18 at about 11:00 p.m., operatives of 9th Mile Division, acting on information and in collaboration with Neighborhood Watch members, arrested 38-year-old Chukwujekwu Chukwuemeka at Ameke-Ngwo, Udi LGA.
He was arrested over alleged involvement in armed robberies in the area. Police said one cut-to-size pump-action gun and one live cartridge were recovered from him.
The Command said investigations into the cases are ongoing and that the suspects would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, commended members of the public for providing information and praised the police operatives for their response to credible intelligence.
He reiterated the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led operations against armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes, while urging residents to remain vigilant, law-abiding and supportive of security agencies.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Awka High Court, on Tuesday, denied bail to the General Overseer of Day Spring Assembly, Mr Harrison Anazodo, who is standing trial over alleged offences relating to his activities as a pastor.
Anazodo had applied for bail on health grounds, but the presiding judge, Justice Jude Obiora, rejected the application, citing concerns over possible interference with witnesses.
The development came as seven persons, believed to be members of the congregation, are expected to testify in the case.
The court adjourned the matter until October 16 for further proceedings.
Speaking shortly after the hearing, State Counsel, Victoria Ekwerekwu, commended the Anambra State Government for its efforts to tackle alleged fraudulent activities by some religious figures.
She said, “We thank Governor Charles Soludo for trying to sanitise our society from pastors who make the younger generation believe that making money without hard work is possible.”
According to her, the prosecution has established a prima facie case against Anazodo, although the state would still be required to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
“Today, there is a prima facie case against the accused, Mr Harrison Anazodo, though it is left for us to prove it beyond reasonable doubt.
“The court ruled on the bail application and denied him bail because of the witnesses, to ensure that they are not interfered with. The matter was subsequently adjourned until October 16,” she said.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, expressed optimism that the case would be concluded expeditiously, stressing that the ultimate decision rests with the court.
“We have been here since 9am. The court considered the bail application filed by his counsel and, after weighing its merits, the judge ruled that bail should be denied.
“We are looking forward to the quick dispensation of the matter and we assure you that justice will be done and will be seen to have been done,” Mefor said.
By Our Correspondent
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation for 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
The victims were reportedly abducted on Thursday, October 1, 2026, around Umunoha in Imo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, Nadada arrived in the state alongside two Commissioners of Police and immediately conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and the ongoing rescue operation.
He also reviewed the operational strategies, deployment of personnel and available assets, while issuing additional directives aimed at strengthening the coordinated response.
The assessment was conducted alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force; other service commanders and members of the management team of the Imo State Police Command.
Iniedu said the search-and-rescue operation had been intensified, with additional tactical teams and operational assets deployed to identified areas.
He added that the operation was being supported by intelligence-led tracking of the abductors and coordinated efforts with other security agencies.
Nadada assured members of the public that the police remained committed to securing the safe release of the abducted persons.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and will sustain the operation until the mission is successfully concluded,” Iniedu quoted Nadada as saying.
The police boss urged members of the public and the media to remain calm and vigilant, while appealing to anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to contact the police or the nearest security formation.
He assured the public that all information received would be treated with strict confidentiality.
The police said further updates would be provided as the rescue operation progresses.
Five men have been arrested and arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, after police allegedly found them wearing T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go.”
The defendants were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.
According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, near West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.
Police charged the five men with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.
Their lawyer subsequently applied for bail. The court adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, to rule on the bail application, while the substantive trial has been scheduled for October 26.
The case has drawn attention because the alleged conduct involved wearing clothing displaying a political message.
Amnesty International criticised the prosecution, describing the arrests as arbitrary and arguing that peaceful political expression is protected by fundamental human rights. The organisation called for the immediate release of the five men and urged authorities to discontinue the case.
Amnesty International also expressed concern that the prosecution could have implications for political expression and opposition activities in Borno State.
The case has generated reactions on social media, with some commentators questioning whether the display of political messages on clothing should constitute a criminal offence.
There have also been allegations that a prominent politician in Borno State may have influenced the arrests. The allegation has not been independently verified.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were reportedly unsuccessful as of the time of filing.
The defendants remain subject to the court process, and the allegations against them have not been established in court.
The Jigawa State Hisbah Board has arrested eight people in Kazaure Local Government Area over alleged homosexual acts, according to the board.
The board’s Public Relations Officer, Dauda Hadejia, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Hadejia said the arrests followed a complaint filed by a 22-year-old man, who alleged that nine individuals had engaged in sexual acts with him on different occasions.
According to the statement, the complainant also claimed that he later contracted HIV, which he attributed to the alleged encounters. He reportedly appealed to the Hisbah authorities for justice, describing the alleged conduct as deceptive and harmful to his life.
Following the complaint, Hadejia said Hisbah operatives launched an investigation and began searching for the nine individuals named by the complainant.
“So far, eight suspects have been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect,” Hadejia said.
He added that the eight arrested individuals reportedly admitted during preliminary investigations to having engaged in sexual acts with the complainant.
Hadejia said the board had gathered information and evidence that would be presented before a court. He added that the investigation remained ongoing and that the suspects would be charged upon its completion.
The Deputy Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Board, Dr. Hussain Baban, reportedly urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s upbringing and the people with whom they associate.
He also called on members of the public to be mindful of the consequences of their actions and to uphold religious and moral values.
The board further expressed appreciation to the Jigawa State Government for its support and cooperation in carrying out its responsibilities.
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