Super TV CEO’s Murder: Ataga’s Blood Found On Chidinma’s Dress – Forensic Expert

A forensic expert, Dr. Richard Somari, has told the court that the DNA blood sample found on Chidinma Ojukwu’s red dress matched that of murdered businessman, Usifo Ataga.  

GWG.ng reports that the trial of the University of Lagos Mass Communication student for the murder of the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, continued on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the Lagos High Court sitting Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island.

Chidinma and Quadri, are facing the first to eight counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stabbing while her sister, Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count of stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to the late Ataga.

Chidinma and the two others were arraigned on Oct. 12, 2021, by the Lagos State Government.

Dr Somiari who testified as the eleventh prosecution witness, told the court that the DNA blood sample found on Chidinma’s red dress matched that of the victim, Ataga.

Led in evidence by the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Adenike Oluwafemi, Somiari, a director and consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, 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 also told the court that concerning Chidinma’s case, his office received 21 different items on different days from their DNA centre staff members.

According to him, the items were received for evidence and they included a stained red dress, an army green t-shirt, and a DNA sample from Chidinma Ojukwu.

He said that other items received were urine, blood, gastric content, and bile which were retained for a toxicology report. He said that the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim.

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 initially charged alongside her, Babalola Disu and Oluwatomi Dada.

The witness was cross-examined by the first defendant’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu.

The witness narrated how the result of the toxicology report was forwarded to the office of the Attorney General of Lagos, the Commissioner of Police, and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

He, however, said that not all forensic reports went through such a procedure.

When asked if he questioned the report given by the toxicologist, the witness said, “I have already said that I am not a toxicologist. It is a toxicologist that can do such”

Egwu, however, requested for the video of the crime scene to be played and the court granted it.

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