Chidinma Alleges Police Threats, Torture, and Coercion to Write False Statements - Account from Ataga
In a shocking turn of events, Chidinma Ojukwu, the ex-University of Lagos student accused of murdering Super TV CEO, Michael Usifo Ataga, blows the lid off the police's alleged coercion tactics during her 2021 interrogation.
Speaking candidly before Justice Yetunde Adesanya at the Lagos High Court, Chidinma revealed that fear instilled in her by Investigating Police Officer, Mr. Bamidele, left her no choice but to recite a scripted narrative.
She claimed that she was arrested on June 23, 2021, and quizzed for hours without legal representation. "[The officers] made me so terrified that I couldn't utter a word contrary to the story they wanted," she said.
Unraveling her tormenting experience, she shared how Bamidele took her phone, combed through her contacts, questioned her about her laptop, cannabis use, and Ataga's ATM card. When she denied any involvement in suspicious withdrawals amounting to ₦5.38 million, Bamidele allegedly ordered her to rewrite her statement.
"I told him my lawyer wasn't available. He slapped me on the back and said, 'There's no time,'" she recounted.
Chidinma claimed that she was too weak and disoriented to write a new statement. "[My hands were shaking]. He collected the pen and began writing the statement himself," she said, adding, "I told him the content was false, and he said, 'That's your story.' Better comply.'"
Handcuffed to a chair, she was forced to memorize the statement ahead of a visit to the Commissioner of Police (CP). "He said, 'Listen to me carefully, do not say otherwise to the CP if you love your life.'"
Chidinma also claimed that Bamidele cautioned her to stick to the story when journalists questioned her. "He took me to an open field. Within a minute, journalists surrounded me. I said what he told me."
Subsequently, she was taken to the DCP's office, where another video confession was recorded. "They put concealer on my face and made me rehearse using a flip chart. We recorded several times until Bamidele approved one."
Later that evening, Chidinma was escorted by an officer named Oseni to another office, where she encountered two female officers, Funke and Bola. They allegedly compelled her to write another statement and threatened her when she hesitated. "[I said I was hungry, and Bola told me] 'When you're done, you'll get food.' A male officer smashed my head on the table."
Chidinma accused the second statement of being dictated to her, and she signed it under pressure.
"Nothing in the statement is true," she told the court, "Not even the part about buying food from Blackbell Restaurant. He said, 'Please sign,' and I did. Then I was taken back to the cell."
Chidinma, alongside Adedapo Quadri and her sister Chioma Egbuchu, is on trial for a nine-count charge of murder, stealing, and forgery. Justice Adesanya adjourned the case until May 7, 2025, for continued proceedings.
Stay tuned for more updates on this sensational trial. In other news...
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- In her testimony at the Lagos High Court, Chidinma Ojukwu, the defendant in the murders of Michael Usifo Ataga, accused the police of coercing her into fabricating a narrative during her 2021 interrogation.
- Speaking candidly, Chidinma contended that she was forced to recite a prewritten statement due to fear instilled in her by Investigating Police Officer, Mr. Bamidele, who threatened to withhold food from her until she complied.
- According to Chidinma, she was handcuffed to a chair during the initial interrogation and compelled to memorize the scripted statement ahead of a visit to the Commissioner of Police (CP).
- In her ongoing trial for a nine-count charge of murder, stealing, and forgery, Chidinma alleged that police officer Oseni took her to another office where Funke and Bola, two female officers, threatened her and made her sign another statement under duress.
- Chidinma declared in court that the statements provided by the police were false and did not reflect the truth, including the claim of buying food from Blackbell Restaurant, which she asserted was a fabrication made under pressure.
