The Lagos State police command says it has arrested one Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu, 21, the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of Michael Usifo Ataga, a business man.
This was disclosed at a press briefing on Thursday in Ikeja, Lagos by the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu.
Ataga was killed on June 15, 2021 at an apartment in Lekki Area of Lagos State.
According to the CP, on the said day of June 15, 2021 at about 1700hrs, Ms Ojukwu, a 300 level undergraduate student of the University of Lagos, conspired with others, now at large, and allegedly murdered Ataga, 50, by stabbing him several times with a sharp object at a Short Service Apartment, situated at No 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
“Chidinma, who had earlier booked for the apartment on June 13, secretly left the apartment after the deed had been done on 15th of June at about 1730hrs,” the police chief said.
The case of murder was transferred from the Maroko Division of the command to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for discreet investigation, and on Wednesday June 23, Osumosu said the suspect was tracked and arrested in her residence at No. 57, Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba-Lagos around 9pm.
The police commissioner said, “During search, the prime suspect and Mass Communication Student of the University of Lagos, was caught with a blood-soaked cloth, ostensibly worn on the day of the incident.
“The suspect confessed to have stabbed the deceased with a kitchen knife after a struggle. She further confessed to have taken the knife away while leaving the scene and disposed of the same in a dust bin at her residence.
“It has also been revealed that the suspect also stole the deceased iPhone.
“Investigation is ongoing to arrest other accomplices.”
Exhibits found from her apartment include one Drivers Licence, complimentary cards, Access Bank Statement of Account, one Nigeria International Passport with No.B50010434 belonging to the suspect; one fake Drivers Licence bearing Mary Johnson, with the suspect’s photograph; one National Identification Card bearing the suspect’s name, one UBA ATM debit card bearing the suspect’s name and one University of Lagos ID Card bearing the suspect’s name.
Odumosu added that the case would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
“At this juncture, I wish to assure the general public that the command will definitely intensify efforts in carrying out thorough investigation into the matter, apprehend and cause other culprits involved in the heinous crime to face the full weight of the law and justice done in the matter,” he said.
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