Chidinma Sold Late Ataga's Laptop to me for N495,000 - Man Tells Court

 

Chidinma Ojukwu the alleged killer of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga sold the dead man's laptop for N495, 000 after allegedly killing him.

 

The businessman who bought the laptop, Mr. Ifeoluwa Oluwo made the confession before the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, on Thursday.

 

He said Chidinma sold the deceased’s laptop to him.

 

He said that he bought the laptop from the first defendant for N495,000, on June 18, two days after Ataga’s body was found at the short service apartment in Lekki.

 

The witness told the court that it was after he bought the laptop that he saw her (defendant) on social media regarding a murder case.

 

He said as soon as he saw that it was the customer he bought the laptop from, he ensured that all her documents were kept handy.

 

Oluwo stated this in the ongoing trial of Chidinma Ojukwua a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos and two others over Ataga’s murder.

 

Ojukwu is standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.

 

The witness said he deals in the sales of phones, laptops and accessories at Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos, and has been in the business for five years,

 

Oluwo, who is the third prosecution witness (PW3), was led in evidence in chief by the Lagos State prosecuting counsel, Mr. Yusuf Sule.

 

 

Chidinma, had on June 13, requested for the short service apartment where Ataga was found dead and left the apartment on June 15, before Ataga’s body was discovered on June 16.

 

The witness who testified before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, and identified the first defendant (Chidinma) a customer, who made a purchase of a phone on April 30 and also made a sale of her laptop on June 18, at the same office.

 

He told the court that they buy and sell brand new phones and fairly used phones.

 

Oluwo said: “On June 18, she(Chidinma) sold me a laptop for N495,000, after negotiations and market value comparison.

 

He said that he inspected the laptop physically, but that he was unable to access it initially.

 

Oluwo said: “I asked her (first defendant) to unlock the laptop and she did.

When asked if the first defendant produced the receipt of the laptop, Oluwo further told the court that she was not able to provide the receipt as she insisted that it was a gift from her boyfriend.

 

The witness said: “After the sale of the laptop, we saw her face on social media, regarding a murder case.

 

“We gave the police the documents of the former owner, which included a copy of her voters’ card, a copy of our form, all receipts which already have her information, regarding the laptop,” the witness said.

 

Asked if he can detect that a product is a stolen item, he said no.

 

“There is no way we can detect that a phone or laptop was a stolen one,” he said.

 

During cross-examination, the first defendant’s counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, asked if he was shown any documents, receipts or proof of ownership to show that the laptop was not for the first defendant at Panti. He said no.

 

Justice Adesanya adjourned the case to November 29, for continuation of trial.

 

The three defendants were arraigned on October 12 on a nine-count charge preferred against them by Lagos State Government.

 

The first and second defendants were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, by stabbing him several times with a knife on the neck and chest.