The owner of the rented apartment where Michael Usifo Ataga, Super TV Chief Executive Officer, was allegedly murdered on Monday maintained before a Lagos High Court, TBS, that she never met the defendant nor the victim before the incident.
The owner of the apartment, Nkechi Mogbo, disclosed this while being cross examined as the first prosecution witness (PW1) in the on-going trial of Chidinma Ojukwu (first defendant) and two others.
Ojukwu, along with her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri, are standing trial for the alleged murder of the Super TV CEO.
Mogbo, was cross examined by the first defendant’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu.
On Nov. 11, the witness gave evidence that she operated a fully furnished self-service apartment, like a normal house with cable TV subscription, a 24-hour power supply and a well equipped kitchen.
Our correspondent report that the witness also narrated to the court how the defendant booked and lodged in the apartment with a friend, including how the body of the victim was discovered at the apartment.
However, at the resumed hearing on Monday, the witness was cross examined and she maintained that the first defendant had informed her while booking for the apartment that she was logging with a friend.
Mogbo said she could not collect the defendant’s International Passport for identification before logging her because the defendant told her that her passport was with the immigration for the purposes of COVID-19 isolation.
The witness said she did not ask for vaccination certificate because, “I didn’t think it was in my capacity to request for it.
“I was not previledged to know if she was a Nigerian due to the name (Jewel) and the the foreign phone number she used while booking for the apartment” Mogbo said.
The witness also said that when the payment for the apartment was made from another name, she did not raise an eyebrow because payment could be made by a friend or family member.
She maintained that the defendant herself sent the receipt of the payment through WhatsApp message after payment was made.
“I did not know who the initiator of the payment was, the defendant sent to me the proof of payment less than a minute the payment was made, so there was nothing to arouse any suspicion as to any fowl play.
“If I did, I would have called the person for further clarification.
“I had know idea who the lady (defendant) was. I never met her before. I had no idea the reason she lodged at the apartment except what I was told.
“I was only running a business just like any other hard working Nigerian”, the witness answered to defend the reason behind some utensils in the apartment’s kitchen.
The witness also answered that the guest at the apartment adjacent to where the incident occurred, had indicated a week earlier of his intention to leave the premises on June 17.
Mogbo denied being the one that informed the guest to leave the premises after the incident occurred.
The witness further stated that it was when the police asked her to give information about the building that she mentioned about the other guests at the apartment.
She confirmed that it was at the deputy commissioner of police’s office that she identified the defendant through a picture on her phone.
Mogbo also said it was the True Caller App on her phone that brought out the name (Chidinma Onah) which the defendant used in registering the private number she had called her (Mogbo) with earlier.
She also stated that the defendant did not inform her that she would vacate the premises for her friend when she asked for two more additional days.
“When the body was found, my security guard called the defendant, she only said that she went for a meeting and that she will be back,” Mogbo said.
After the cross examination, the prosecutor, Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi , Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), told the court that she had no re-examination.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya, however, adjourned the case until Nov.16 for further hearing
Recalls that the three defendants were arraigned on Oct. 12 on a nine count charge preferred against them by the Lagos State Government.
They had allegedly murdered the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Micheal Usifo Ataga.
The first two defendants, Chidinma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri, are facing the first to eight counts charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.
The third defendant, who is the first defendant’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count charge of stealing iPhone 7, belonging to the late Ataga.
In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife on his neck and chest.
The incident took place at No. 19, Adewale Oshin St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
The duo were also accused of committing forgery by procuring and making bank account statements purported to have been made by the deceased.
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