Chidinma Breaks Silence in Court, Recounts How She Returned with Food to Find Super TV CEO Ataga Dead in Lekki Apartment
Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga, on Thursday told the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square how she found his lifeless body in a short-let apartment in Lekki 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 several times without a response, and eventually pushed the door open only to find Ataga lying motionless in a pool of blood.
“I dropped everything and rushed to him,” she said emotionally. “His eyes were half-shut and there was no pulse.”
Led in evidence by her counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, Chidinma detailed how her relationship with Ataga began in November 2020 through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James. She described Ataga as kind and supportive, saying he paid her school fees and funded her cosmetics business.
She also told the court that Ataga, a media executive from Edo State residing in Victoria Garden City, was estranged from his wife in Abuja and had three children.
According to her, on June 13, 2021, Ataga informed her of his upcoming birthday and invited her to spend time with him before he traveled for a family event in Abuja. Due to renovations at his VGC residence, he suggested booking a hotel or short-let apartment in Lekki.
Chidinma said she found a suitable short-let at 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road, Lekki, which Ataga approved. That evening, they met at the apartment, went to eat at Ango Villa restaurant, bought wine, and returned to relax, eat, drink, and smoke.
On June 14, they woke up late. Chidinma said Ataga asked her to help contact her supplier for cannabis (locally known as ‘loud’) and rohypnol. She received N15,000 for that and another N25,000 for food. She was away for two hours due to COVID-related movement delays.
On June 15, she claimed Ataga requested more cannabis but asked her to pay, saying he couldn’t transfer money at the time. He, however, gave her cash for food and juice.
When she returned after a mix-up over the soup she bought, she walked into a shocking scene.
“I saw blood stains, pushed the door open, and saw Michael on the floor, covered in blood. I checked for a pulse — there was none.”
In panic, she said she cleaned blood off herself, changed clothes, and packed her belongings. These included a brown envelope containing Ataga’s bank statements, ID cards, and documents belonging to one Mary Johnson. She also took some jewelry before leaving the apartment in a cab.
Justice Adesanya adjourned the case till April 28, 2025, for continuation of trial.
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