– Rules She Wasn’t Coerced To Sign Statements
A Lagos High Court, sitting inside TBS annex building, has ruled that Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the alleged killing of Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga, was not coerced and intimidated into signing her statements.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya, gave the ruling on Thursday, after admitting two handwritten statements by Chidinma Ojukwu, as evidence and marked them as exhibits in the case.
She held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the voluntariness of the defendant’s statements.
She said this while ruling in the trial within trial where the defendant objected to the admissibility of her statements.
Ms Ojukwu, through her Counsel, Onwuka Egwu, had alleged that her statements were not voluntarily made.
The defendant had also insisted that she was slapped and forced to sign statements not voluntarily made by her.
The former undergraduate of the University of Lagos is facing trial alongside one, Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu for alleged murder of Ataga.
Justice Adesanya in the ruling further 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.”
The Judge, therefore, admitted the two statements in evidence and marked them as exhibits.
Justice Adesanya adjourned the case until May 30 for continuation of trial.