Israel Adeleke
A Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday said that the videos tendered in court did not display any intimidation towards the defendant, Chidinma Ojukwu, the suspected SuperTV Murderer, who claimed that she was slapped and forced to sign statements not voluntarily made by her.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya, said this while giving a ruling on the trial within trial where the defendant had objected to the admissibility of her statements.
Chidinma who was a former 300-level Mass Communication undergraduate of the University of Lagos is standing trial for the alleged murder of a Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga.
She was also charged of stealing and forgery alongside one Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.
They have been on trial since October 12, 2021, when they were arraigned at the high court before Justice Yetunde Adesanya.
However she denied all the allegation through her counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, alleged that her statements were not voluntarily made, that she was slapped and forced to sign the statements not voluntarily made by her.
Justice Adesanya however, said, “The videos tendered in court did not display any intimidation towards the defendant while she was writing her statements.
“The voice of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) was clear and audible. It did not show any form of intimidation”.
She said that the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was not coaxed into writing her statements.
Justice Adesanya explained that before a statement can be admissible in court, the defendant must be advised of their rights, cautioned and made to understand their rights.
After the ruling, the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Adenike Oluwafemi, requested an adjournment.
She explained that the police officer who was still giving evidence before the trial within a trial was not present in court, that the witness was out of the jurisdiction on official assignment.
However, Justice Adesanya adjourned the case until May 30 for continuation of the trial.
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