The High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos has dismissed claims by Chidinma Ojukwu that she was coerced and intimidated into confessing to the alleged murder of Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya, who presided over the trial within a trial, stated that the prosecution had provided evidence that proved the voluntariness of the defendant’s statements.
Ms Ojukwu, along with Adedapo Quadri and her sister Chioma Egbuchu, is standing trial for the murder of Ataga.
The defendant had objected to the admissibility of her statements, claiming that they were not voluntarily made and that she was slapped and forced to sign them.
However, Justice Adesanya ruled that the videos tendered in court did not display any intimidation towards the defendant while she was writing her statements, and the voice of the investigating police officer (IPO) was clear and audible and did not show any form of intimidation.
“The videos tendered in court did not display any intimidation towards the defendant while she was writing her statements,” Judge said.
“The voice of the investigating police officer (IPO) was clear and audible. It did not show any form of intimidation.”
The court, therefore, admits the two statements in evidence and marks them as exhibits.
The case has been adjourned until May 30 for the continuation of the trial.