On Thursday, Chidinma Ojukwu, who is on trial for the alleged murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer Usifo Ataga, had two handwritten statements acknowledged by Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square.
The prosecutor has established beyond a reasonable doubt, according to the judge, that Chidinma gave the statements voluntarily rather than under duress.
While making a decision about the trial-within-a-trial, the judge admitted the statements against the defendant as evidence to show that she voluntarily made confessional statements.
The defendant claimed that she signed the statements under duress and that she had been slapped in order to do so through the assistance of her attorney, Mr. Onwuka Egwu.
But in her ruling on Thursday, Justice Adesanya held, “The videos tendered in court did not display any intimidation towards the defendant while she was writing her statements.
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“The voice of the Investigating Police Officer was clear and audible. It did not show any form of intimidation.”
The judge, therefore, admitted the two statements in evidence and marked them as exhibits.
Meanwhile, Chidinma is standing trial for the alleged murder of Ataga.
She is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri.
After the ruling, the prosecutor, Adenike Oluwafemi, made an adjournment on the grounds that the next witness, a policeman, was out of the jurisdiction.
Consequently, Justice Adesanya adjourned till May 30 for continuation of trial.
