The trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level student of the University of Lagos and the alleged murder suspect of Super TV CEO Usifo Ataga, encountered a setback on Tuesday as the defendant was absent from court.
Chidinma, facing charges of murder, theft, and forgery, was scheduled to appear at the Lagos State High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square along with co-defendant Adedapo Quadri.
However, due to the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, News About Nigeria gathered that the correctional facility officials did not bring the inmates to court for security reasons.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya informed the court that the correctional facility officials had indicated that inmates would not be brought to court until the strike was called off.
Consequently, the trial, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was adjourned to ensure proceedings would not be disrupted by the ongoing strike.
Counsel for the first defendant, Mr Onwuka Egwu, suggested vacating the scheduled date and setting a fresh, clear date once the strike was called off.
Similarly, the second defendant’s counsel, Mr Babatunde Busari, expressed concern about the prolonged duration of the trial and suggested assigning a specific date to ensure substantive justice.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Adenike Oluwafemi, informed the court that, aside from the ninth prosecution witness, DSP Olusegun Bamidele, who was still testifying, there were two more witnesses to be presented.
Justice Adesanya subsequently vacated the trial date for Wednesday and adjourned the case until December 5 and December 7, 2023, to allow for the continuation of the trial.
Chidinma Ojukwu, along with her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and Adedapo Quadri, were arraigned on October 12, 2021, by the Lagos State Government in connection with the alleged murder of Usifo Ataga.
