The family of the late Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Super TV, Mr Usifo Ataga, has raised the alarm that some powerful people were out to compromise the outcome of investigations into the circumstances leading to his death.
It was alleged that those behind the moves might be working surreptitiously to extricate the main suspect in the case, Miss Chidinma Ojukwu from complicity in the murder trial.
Ojukwu and one Adedapo Quadri are currently standing trial for the gruesome murder of Ataga in Lagos on June 15, 2021.
Also docked for the murder is the cousin of Ojukwu, one Chioma Egbuchu, who is accused of stealing Ataga’s iPhone 7 after his (Ataga’s) murder.
A source familiar with the court proceedings stated that the general feeling amongst family and friends is the alleged notion that the trial may be compromised with respect to the autopsy and forensic reports, and the investigation generally.
The source claimed that the family’s suspicion became stronger from the testimony of a former Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Professor John Obafunwa.
Family members monitoring the trial were said to have alluded to the testimony of Prof. Obafunwa at a sitting of a state High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square that the samples he gave to perform a post-mortem examination on the body of Ataga, were possibly manipulated having been delayed for over a year before it was returned to him, setting off alarm signals to their fears.
According to the source, the family felt that the investigators were tardy, and for a long time, the Lagos State Government kept promising that it would do all that was necessary to ensure the proper investigation of the matter including paying for proper forensic analysis outside the country.
“Apparently and to the dismay of the family, this did not happen as the government kept procrastinating and the case only moved ahead after the family of the late Ataga paid for the forensics to be done overseas”, the source disclosed.
Speaking to reporters after the last hearing date, Counsel from A & J law firm, Ms. J. Ugegbe, holding watching brief on behalf of the Ataga family stated that “the family is urging relevant authorities to ensure that justice prevails at the end of the day for their son and brother, who was gruesomely killed in his prime by some heartless and soulless individuals.
“For the family, it is their firm belief that justice can only be attained through meticulous and diligent prosecution of the case and one of the means for attaining that is through forensic approach and this is the reason why the family is calling for caution by all,” she said.
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