By Onyinyechi Ugwoke
At the resumed trial of Chidinma Ojukwu on Monday at the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos State.
The first prosecution witness, Mrs. Nkechi Mogbo, the owner of the short-let apartment were Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Michael Ataga was allegedly killed by Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos was cross-examined by the first defendant’s counsel, Onwuka Egbu.
The Short-let apartment owner denied meeting the deceased, Michael Ataga and the defendant, Chidinma Ojukwu, before the incident.
The defence counsel asked if Mrs Mogbo provided safety measures for her guests, as well as closed-circuit-television cameras.
She replied, “We have 24/7 security at the gate that monitors people’s movement. At the time of the incident, the installer had not completed the installation of the closed-circuit cameras.”
“After every guest, we go over every item or equipment. The multipurpose knife is a kitchen utensil.” the short-let apartment owner replied when a asked by Egbu how often she take stock of things and the purpose of the knife in the apartment, allegedly used to have stabbed Michael Ataga
The defence attorney asked for the names of the guests in the apartment from June 11 to 17, 2021 suggesting that the knife in the apartment was for a predestined purpose.
Mrs Mogbo said, “The identities of the guests with their photo identification were handed over to the police. There was a Mr Babatunde, and one Omolara, aswell as Jewel (Chidinma) and her friend. Babatunde left the facility on the 17th of June, while the female, Omolara, left a month after the incident.”
She explained that she did not know the nationality of Chidinma because the name and number were foreign. “During the WhatsApp conversation, she confirmed she would be having a friend over. Payment could be made by anybody. However, Jewel sent me the proof of payment less than a minute from our conclusion so there was nothing to arouse any suspicion as to foul play.”
Egbu then told the witness, “I put it to you that the reason you did not raise an eyebrow as to the payment was because you already knew the deceased.”But Mogbo replied, “That is false. I had no knowledge of who the initiator of the funds was, I had never met him. If I did, I would have called the person to give me more clarification as to the lady in question.
Egbu then tendered as evidence the handwritten statement which Mogbo made to the police.
After the cross-examination, the prosecution counsel, Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, told the court that she had no further questions for the witness.
The case was adjourned to November 16th, 2021 by Justice Yetunde Adesanya.
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