How I Found Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga dead in Lekki Apartment – Chidinma narrates to Court

Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the murder of Super TV CEO Michael Usifo Ataga, gave a chilling account of how she found his lifeless body at a short-let apartment in Lekki during her testimony on Thursday before the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.

Testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, Chidinma, a former 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, recounted the events of June 15, 2021. She said she had gone out to get food and juice, but upon returning and receiving no response after knocking repeatedly, she pushed the door open and was confronted by a shocking sight.

“I dropped everything and rushed to him,” she said, explaining how she saw blood on the floor and found Ataga lying motionless in a pool of blood with his eyes half-shut and no pulse.

Led in evidence by her lawyer, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, Chidinma detailed her relationship with Ataga, which began in November 2020. According to her, they met through a mutual friend, Fiyin, who was dating Ataga’s friend, James. She described the late Ataga as generous and supportive, saying he helped with her school fees and cosmetics business.

She said Ataga, a father of three with his estranged wife based in Abuja, had informed her of his upcoming birthday and invited her to spend time with him in Lagos before heading to Abuja for a family event. Since his Victoria Garden City (VGC) home was under renovation, he proposed they stay at a hotel or short-let apartment.

Chidinma found and booked a short-let at 19 Adewale Street, off Ologolo Road in Lekki, where they met on June 13. After dinner at Ango Villa restaurant and buying wine, they returned to the apartment to drink and smoke.

The next day, June 14, Ataga reportedly asked her to buy cannabis (commonly called ‘loud’) and rohypnol, sending her N15,000. Later, he sent another N25,000 for food. Due to COVID-related delays, she said she was gone for about two hours.

On June 15, Ataga again requested more cannabis, but asked her to cover the cost as he was unable to transfer money. He later gave her money for more food and drinks. She recounted a mix-up while buying okro soup, which delayed her return.

Upon arriving back at the apartment, Chidinma said she noticed blood stains on the floor, pushed the door open, and found Ataga dead. “I checked for a pulse—there was none,” she told the court.

Panicked, she said she cleaned herself, changed clothes, and packed her belongings. She also took a brown envelope containing Ataga’s bank statements, ID cards, and some documents belonging to one Mary Johnson, along with jewelry, before leaving the scene in a cab.

The court has adjourned the case to April 28, 2025, for continuation of trial.