Mogbo, while testifying on Thursday November 11,2021, told the court that she had a self-service apartment rented out for short service accommodation.
She said, “The apartment is fully furnished with cable TV, 24-hour power services, and a well-equipped kitchen. Couples and people from out of town who come in for weddings regularly book the apartment online or through referrals from agents.”
The witness, while being led in evidence in chief by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, said, “On June 13, 2021 around 4pm, a lady called me on the telephone with a private number and requested for the apartment. The lady requested to see the apartment to ensure that the facilities were up to the standard she needed.”
The witness said after visiting the apartment, the lady, through WhatsApp message, confirmed that she would take the apartment for three days.
The witness stated that Chidinma “left the service apartment before the day she was supposed to leave.”
Mogbo added, “She mentioned that her name was Jewel and I forwarded payment details, thereafter, she sent proof of payment of N125,000, to my WhatsApp.
The payment was made through a commercial bank account of one Mr Micheal Usifo, and my name as recipient.”
She further told the court that after two days, on June 15 around 5.30pm, Chidinma sent another message to her WhatsApp, stating that her friend would stay for two more days.
The witness added that the payment was made from Ataga’s GTB account, adding that later, when she called her security guard for another issue, the guard told her that “a body was found on the ground of the apartment.”
“I tried to reach the lady on the telephone, but she cut the call. She then sent a message to me that she was in a meeting.
“I sent a message that the payment which was made in the morning wasn’t credited to me,” the witness said.
She stated that Chidinma replied that her friend would make another payment, adding that few minutes later, she got another N50,000 from Ataga’s account.
“After a couple of hours, I sent her a message that I have received the initial payment of N50,000 and that I have given the security man the extra N50,000 for her to pick it up.
“She didn’t come; she sent a message that she would use it to pay for two more days for her friend. I reported the incident at the Maroko Police Station,” the witness said.
Mogbo then told the court that she was taken to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau in Panti, Yaba, where she spent seven days in custody to help police do a proper investigation.
She said she could not initially identify Chidinma when she was brought to the station, adding that it was with the aid of a picture she got from her phone that she was able to identify the suspect.
She also stated that her conversations with the first defendant were done through WhatsApp.
The DPP tendered the printed copy of the WhatsApp conversation as evidence.
However, the first defendant’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egbu, objected to the admissibility of the document.
He said, “It is a public document which must be certified before it can be used as evidence.”
Justice Adesanya overruled Egbu and admitted the document as evidence.
Egbu then asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the documents, as well as to prepare for the cross-examination of the witness.
The judge adjourned the case till November, 15, 2021.
She said, “The apartment is fully furnished with cable TV, 24-hour power services, and a well-equipped kitchen. Couples and people from out of town who come in for weddings regularly book the apartment online or through referrals from agents.”
The witness, while being led in evidence in chief by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, said, “On June 13, 2021 around 4pm, a lady called me on the telephone with a private number and requested for the apartment. The lady requested to see the apartment to ensure that the facilities were up to the standard she needed.”
The witness said after visiting the apartment, the lady, through WhatsApp message, confirmed that she would take the apartment for three days.
The witness stated that Chidinma “left the service apartment before the day she was supposed to leave.”
Mogbo added, “She mentioned that her name was Jewel and I forwarded payment details, thereafter, she sent proof of payment of N125,000, to my WhatsApp.
The payment was made through a commercial bank account of one Mr Micheal Usifo, and my name as recipient.”
She further told the court that after two days, on June 15 around 5.30pm, Chidinma sent another message to her WhatsApp, stating that her friend would stay for two more days.
The witness added that the payment was made from Ataga’s GTB account, adding that later, when she called her security guard for another issue, the guard told her that “a body was found on the ground of the apartment.”
“I tried to reach the lady on the telephone, but she cut the call. She then sent a message to me that she was in a meeting.
“I sent a message that the payment which was made in the morning wasn’t credited to me,” the witness said.
She stated that Chidinma replied that her friend would make another payment, adding that few minutes later, she got another N50,000 from Ataga’s account.
“After a couple of hours, I sent her a message that I have received the initial payment of N50,000 and that I have given the security man the extra N50,000 for her to pick it up.
“She didn’t come; she sent a message that she would use it to pay for two more days for her friend. I reported the incident at the Maroko Police Station,” the witness said.
Mogbo then told the court that she was taken to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau in Panti, Yaba, where she spent seven days in custody to help police do a proper investigation.
She said she could not initially identify Chidinma when she was brought to the station, adding that it was with the aid of a picture she got from her phone that she was able to identify the suspect.
She also stated that her conversations with the first defendant were done through WhatsApp.
The DPP tendered the printed copy of the WhatsApp conversation as evidence.
However, the first defendant’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egbu, objected to the admissibility of the document.
He said, “It is a public document which must be certified before it can be used as evidence.”
Justice Adesanya overruled Egbu and admitted the document as evidence.
Egbu then asked the court for an adjournment to enable him to study the documents, as well as to prepare for the cross-examination of the witness.
The judge adjourned the case till November, 15, 2021.
Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is accused of killing 50-year-old Super TV CEO Usifo Ataga.
Chidinma and two others, Adedapo Quadri and Chioma Egbuchu, are undergoing trial before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos State.
from Punch Newspaper.
Short service slaughter houses.
ReplyDeleteAll the philandering husbands who have such "slaughter houses" for side chicks
should close shops if they are wise at all.
Many "rion side chicks" are on the prowl.
There's nothing wrong with hotels or all these short service apartments, my family have used such when we traveled to Ibadan from the east for tourism.
DeleteWe didn't want to stay in anybody's house throughout the 5 days we were there.
Though I get 'where' you are coming from.
This was well planned, it just didn’t happen.
ReplyDeleteThis girl is evil. At her age, she’s this hardened.
She really is hardened.
DeleteI like how the apartment owner acted, very clever lady.
Justice must be done.
This is really sad.
ReplyDeleteI see this man in heavens gate knocking loudly with no response.
ReplyDeleteSeer!
DeleteYou are seeing clearly sir!
He has entered already. While you’re still here judging him
DeleteDeputy jesus
DeleteThey case will soon die off....
ReplyDeleteThe case will not die off.
DeleteSome people will forget. The family will remember.
There will be time wasting by the system.
There may be time wasting by the defence.
Then one day, judgment will be delivered by the court.
So it was for those young men who killed a despatch rider who went to deliver a phone to them Port Harcourt.
Judgment will be delivered.
Till that time, everybody involved in the case as accused person, prosecution and defence counsel, witnesses, custodial officers, and Judge remembers the case.
Years ahead, Law Students and Teachers will use this case as study and teaching material.
People need to learn, an act of crime, especially one involving shedding of human blood, never never goes away, it is never forgotten.
A murder is never forgotten.
#TheLegalTrainee
17.26 👌👌
DeleteNa so world people go forget this girl case
ReplyDeleteThis is heartbreaking💔
ReplyDeleteSad
ReplyDeleteLet her face the music if she's found guilty
ReplyDeleteBefore nko?
DeleteWicked hardened criminal
ReplyDeleteThey just wasted this guy for nothing.. smh
ReplyDeleteGreedy wicked girl,with nothing to offer except harm.So unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteMaybe people used the lady to kill the man
ReplyDeleteThis case is for God Almighty to judge because it's going south àlready
ReplyDeleteAre you the one taking it south???
DeleteMy people be very careful, because after you hustled and made it, then one useless being will just destroy you.
ReplyDelete