At the continuation of the alleged murder trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, Dr. Richard Somiari, the 11th prosecution witness, stated that the DNA blood sample found on the defendant’s red dress matched that of the victim, Michael Usifo Ataga, the Chief Executive Officer Super TV.
Somiari, a director and consultant at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, testified in a Lagos High Court located at Tafawa Balewa Square.
Forensic expert testifies against Chidinma Ojukwu over Michael Ataga’s death
Chidinma Ojukwu, a Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos, is being charged with the murder of Michael Ataga. She is being tried alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and Adedapo Quadri.
During the resumed hearing, the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi led the witness in evidence.
Somiari told the court that he had practised in the area of forensics for 15 years and had conducted over 500 forensic tests.
The forensic analyst testified that their office received 21 items from staff members at different times.
He stated that the items, which were to be used as evidence, included a red dress with stains, a green T-shirt, and a DNA sample from Chidinma Ojukwu.
He stated that in addition to the package, they also received urine, blood, gastric contents, and bile, which were kept for toxicology analysis.
He said that the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim.
Blood sample matched Chidinma Ojukwu red dress
Somiari said that the DNA on the red dress matched that of the victim, Ataga, but it did not match that of Chidinma and the other suspects, who were Babalola Disu and Oluwatomi Dada.
The first defendant’s counsel, Mr. Onwuka Egwu, cross-examined the witness.
The witness explained how the toxicology report was sent to the office of the Attorney General of Lagos, the Commissioner of Police, and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
However, he clarified that not all forensic reports follow the same procedure.
When asked if he had doubts about the report provided by Dr. Andrea Nuhu, the witness responded, “I am not a toxicologist. Only a toxicologist can scrutinise such a report.
Egwu requested for the video of the crime scene to be played, and the court granted the request.
While the video was playing, he asked the witness whether the samples of blood on the cotton, the wall, the duvet, white polo the victim was wearing, were tested.
The witness stated that the samples were not relevant to the video, and some samples were in storage but not tested.
Mr. Babatunde Busari, the counsel of the second defendant, cross-examined the witness and inquired whether any DNA sample was taken from the second defendant, Quadri.
The witness responded in the negative. The counsel further questioned whether the witness was involved in the toxicology analysis, to which the witness replied in the negative as well.
During the trial of the case involving the murder of Mr. Ataga, the third defendant’s counsel, Ms. C. G. Ugochikwu, stated that she did not have any questions for the witness.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya adjourned the trial until May 30.
Lagos prosecutes Chidinma Ojukwu
The Lagos State Government had arraigned Ojukwu and two others on October 12, 2021.
Ojukwu and Quadri were charged with the first eight counts of conspiracy, murder, and stabbing, while her sister, Egbuchu, was charged with the ninth count of stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.
The first and second defendants were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife on the neck and chest at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
