A 200-level student of the University of Lagos, Chidinma Ojukwu, who was fingered in the killing of SuperTV founder, Michael Ataga, has pleaded not guilty to the charge when she appeared before a Lagos High Court on Tuesday.
Tribune Online reports that the Lagos State government arraigned Ojukwu alongside her sister, Egbuchu Chioma, in whose possession police recovered Ataga’s iPhone 7 and one Adedapo Quadri who also pleaded not guilty.
Ojukwu was brought to court by prison warders who put a veil on her to shield her from cameras and journalists.
Her formal arrangement was a follow-up to the legal advice issued by the Lagos Directorate of Public Prosecution establishing a case against her.
The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Olayinka Adeyemi, had recommended Ojukwu and four others for trial over the murder.
Mrs Adeyemi said that the duo also allegedly conspired to commit forgery, by procuring and making Access and UBA Bank, account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.
The DPP had preferred a nine-count charge that bothers on murder, forgery and stealing against the defendants.
The prosecutor further accused Ojukwu and Quadri of allegedly forging an international passport and a driver’s license in Ojukwu’s name.
According to the prosecution, the offences committed are punishable under Sections 411, 233, 365 (2) b, 280, 329, of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.
Consequently, Justice Yetunde Adesanya remanded the first and second defendants in prison custody and allowed the third defendant to continue on the bail granted her at the Magistrate Court.
The case was adjourned till November 9 and 11 for trial.
Nigerian Tribune reports that the 22-year-old student was arrested by the police on June 23 for allegedly killing Mr Usifo at a short-let apartment in Lekki.
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