Chidinma Ojukwu Denies Discussing Super TV CEO’s De@th with Co-Defendant, Says Their Relationship Was Strictly Transactional
In another gripping turn in the ongoing murder trial of Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu—the prime suspect in the killing of Super TV CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga—the former University of Lagos student told a Lagos High Court on Monday, October 27, 2025, that she never discussed the death of the businessman with her co-defendant, Adedapo Quadri.
Ojukwu, who has maintained her innocence since the trial began, was under cross-examination by Quadri’s counsel, Mr. Babatunde Busari, at the resumed hearing before Justice Yetunde Adesanya. The court session, which was packed with journalists, lawyers, and members of the public, reignited public discourse around one of Nigeria’s most high-profile murder cases of the past decade.
The murder of Michael Ataga in June 2021 sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s social and media spaces. Ataga, the founder and CEO of Super TV, was discovered dead in a serviced apartment in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, with multiple stab wounds. In the days that followed, police investigations led to the arrest of Chidinma Ojukwu, then a 21-year-old undergraduate of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos.
The case immediately drew massive public interest due to the circumstances surrounding Ataga’s death—allegations of infidelity, drug use, and the involvement of a young student. Videos of Chidinma’s early confessions circulated widely online, showing her admitting to stabbing Ataga in self-defense. However, she later recanted, claiming she had been coerced into making that statement.
Since then, the trial has been riddled with twists, with both the prosecution and defense presenting conflicting narratives about what truly happened inside that apartment at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki.
During Monday’s hearing, Ojukwu was adamant that her interactions with Adedapo Quadri were limited strictly to drug transactions and the production of her school identification card.
“I never had any discussion with Adedapo Quadri about the death of Ataga,” Ojukwu stated firmly. “The only transactions we had were for the supply of Loud (a form of cannabis) and Rohypnol. He also helped me to produce my school ID card. That was all.”
Her statement came as a rebuttal to the defense’s insinuation that she and Quadri had a deeper, possibly conspiratorial relationship tied to Ataga’s death.
Ojukwu told the court that Quadri never visited her while she was at the Lekki apartment with Ataga and was not involved in any of the events that unfolded before or after the businessman’s demise. “He knew nothing about what happened between me and Mr. Ataga,” she said, adding that her only reason for contacting Quadri was to procure drugs after Ataga mentioned he had just one stick of Loud left.
In one of the more revealing moments of the testimony, Chidinma admitted taking a brown envelope from the apartment after Ataga’s death. The envelope, according to her, contained various personal documents belonging to the deceased.
“I took the brown envelope when I was leaving the apartment,” she explained. “Inside it were Mr. Ataga’s driver’s licence, his ID card, office complimentary cards, a driver’s licence and international passport belonging to one Mary Johnson, as well as Access Bank and UBA statements of account.”
Ojukwu claimed she did not intentionally take the envelope but realized later that she had carried it along with her belongings by mistake. “I told the police about it during interrogation,” she added, maintaining that there was no malicious intent behind her actions.
Before the continuation of cross-examination, Justice Adesanya delivered a ruling admitting into evidence several letters tendered by Ojukwu’s counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, requesting that specific items be produced.
The court also accepted several electronic devices presented through Ojukwu, including multiple iPhones and a MacBook laptop. Under questioning, Ojukwu identified the devices—an iPhone 7 Plus belonging to her sister, an iPhone 11 Pro, an iPhone X, and a silver 2019 MacBook Pro, which she confirmed she had sold to a vendor prior to her arrest.
The admissibility of these electronic devices has been a contentious point throughout the trial. The prosecution argues that some of them were used in facilitating the alleged conspiracy and communication between Ojukwu and Quadri. The defense, however, maintains that the devices were unrelated to Ataga’s death and that the prosecution’s digital evidence was mishandled and incomplete.
The state is prosecuting Chidinma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri on an eight-count charge of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and unlawful stabbing. A third defendant, Chioma Egbuchu, faces a one-count charge of stealing Ataga’s iPhone 7.
According to the prosecution led by Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi, the defendants conspired to kill Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him multiple times in the neck and chest during a heated altercation in the Lekki apartment. The police claim that after the killing, Ojukwu fled the scene with the deceased’s phone, laptop, and ATM card, which she later used to make withdrawals.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Since the start of the investigation, Chidinma’s statements have been the subject of intense scrutiny. In her initial confession to the police, she admitted to stabbing Ataga after he allegedly forced himself on her during a disagreement. She described the incident as an act of self-defense, claiming she panicked and fled after realizing he had died.
However, during later interviews and court appearances, she denied killing him, alleging that she was pressured into confessing and that unknown persons must have entered the apartment after she left. This inconsistency has significantly complicated her defense strategy, leading to widespread speculation about what truly transpired in the hours before Ataga’s death.
Her lawyer, Mr. Egwu, has consistently argued that the police investigation was sloppy and that Ojukwu was subjected to psychological coercion. He has also raised questions about the lack of CCTV footage, the delay in forensic analysis, and the handling of the crime scene.
At the center of the trial lies the murky relationship between Ataga and Ojukwu—a mix of romance, drug use, and secrecy. The two reportedly met through mutual acquaintances and began an intimate relationship that involved frequent drug use. Testimonies from witnesses, including security guards and apartment managers, suggest that both individuals were seen together multiple times before the incident.
The prosecution has painted a picture of Ojukwu as manipulative and motivated by greed, citing financial transactions and the withdrawal of ₦380,000 from Ataga’s account after his death. The defense, on the other hand, portrays her as a young woman trapped in a toxic relationship with an older, influential man who introduced her to a world of drugs and excess.
The autopsy report, presented earlier in the trial, confirmed that Ataga died from multiple stab wounds inflicted with a sharp object. The medical examiner noted that the wounds were concentrated on the neck and chest area, suggesting deliberate and forceful blows.
The defense has questioned the accuracy of the report, arguing that no DNA evidence conclusively links Ojukwu to the murder weapon. Additionally, the absence of fingerprints on the knife recovered from the scene has raised further doubts about the prosecution’s version of events.
The courtroom was silent as Chidinma calmly responded to questions, maintaining a steady tone throughout her testimony. Observers noted her composure, in contrast to earlier hearings where she appeared visibly emotional.
Outside the court, the case continues to dominate public conversation. Social media remains deeply divided—some users argue that Chidinma is a victim of societal double standards, while others insist she must face the full weight of the law.
Legal experts note that the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for how Nigeria’s judiciary handles gender-based violence, self-defense claims, and cases involving digital evidence.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the matter to November 6, 2025, for the continuation of trial, during which more witnesses are expected to testify and further forensic evidence will be examined.
As the trial progresses, many Nigerians continue to seek closure on a case that has lingered in the national consciousness for over four years. Whether the court ultimately finds Chidinma guilty or innocent, the proceedings have already exposed significant flaws in Nigeria’s investigative and judicial systems—particularly around evidence handling, media sensationalism, and the presumption of innocence.
For now, Chidinma Ojukwu stands firm on her claim: she never conspired with Adedapo Quadri, never discussed Ataga’s death with anyone, and remains confident that the truth will eventually vindicate her.