Ataga’s murder: Blood stain on Chidinma’s dress matches deceased’s blood, forensic expert reveals

A new revelation in the murder case of Super TV’s CEO, Usifo Ataga, has confirmed that the blood stain on Chidimma Ojukwu’s red dress, the prime suspect, matched that of Ataga, according to forensic expert Dr. Richard Somari.

Dr. Somiari gave the revelation while testifying as the 11th prosecution witness at the resumed trial of the case at a Lagos High Court on the island on Tuesday.

According to him, the DNA blood sample found on Chidinma’s red dress matched that of the victim, Ataga.

Persecondnews recalls that a student of mass communication at the University of Lagos, Ojukwu, was arrested on June 23, 2021, by the police as the prime suspect in the murder of Usifo at a short-let apartment in Lekki, Lagos.

The media mogul was found in a pool of his blood with multiple stab wounds on his body in the apartment.

Led in evidence by the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi, Somiari, a director and consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, told the court that he had practiced in the area of forensics for 15 years and had conducted over 500 forensic tests.

The forensic expert also told the court that concerning the suspect’s case, his office had received 21 different items on different days from their DNA centre staff members.

He said the evidence included a stained red dress, an army green t-shirt, and a DNA sample from Chidinma Ojukwu.

He said other items received were urine, blood, gastric content, and bile, which were retained for a toxicology report. He said that the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim.

Somiari said that the DNA on the red dress matched that of the victim, Ataga, but did not match that of Chidinma and the other suspects, who were initially charged alongside her, Babalola Disu and Oluwatomi Dada.

The witness was cross-examined by the first defendant’s counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu.

Persecondnews had reported that the suspects were first arraigned at a Yaba Magistrates’ Court on September 6, 2021.

However, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs. Olayinka Adeyemi, had recommended murder charges against Chidimma Ojukwu and Adedapo Quadri at a Lagos High Court.

The 21-year-old Unilag student was also charged with stealing, alongside her elder sister, Egbuchu Chioma, 28, an iPhone 7 belonging to the deceased that was later recovered.

Ojukwu and Quadri are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing, while her sister, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.