Chidinma Ojukwu, a defendant in the ongoing trial over the death of Super TV CEO Michael Ataga, told a Lagos High Court on Tuesday that she regretted his death.
Ojukwu is standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and Adedapo Quadri on charges of murder, conspiracy, and stealing. All three have pleaded not guilty.
During cross-examination, the prosecutor, Mr Y. A. Sule, asked Ojukwu if she regretted the death of Ataga, to which she replied:
“I regret that he died.”
Ojukwu denied being the last person to see Ataga alive and rejected allegations that she removed his gadgets from the apartment. She acknowledged selling her MacBook Pro for N495,000 at Phone Hub, with the proceeds deposited into her Sterling Bank account, but denied prior knowledge of two receipts presented as evidence by the prosecution.
Defence counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, objected to the admission of the documents, claiming the prosecution had not disclosed them in advance. Justice Yetunde Adesanya overruled the objection, ruling the documents relevant.
Ojukwu told the court that the MacBook was a birthday gift, and the giver had provided a receipt. She admitted that her personal details were on a phone recovered by police and that she continued to use it to make calls after leaving the apartment.
During re-examination, Ojukwu stated that she was a 300-level Mass Communication student prior to her arrest and had no expertise in information technology.
The trial has been adjourned until 9 February 2026 for continuation. Ojukwu is the first defence witness, and the defence plans to call approximately four witnesses, while the prosecution has so far called ten.
Ojukwu and Ataga had been living together in a short-let apartment in Lagos, where his body was later discovered. The case, which began in 2021, is now in its fifth year.
