Super TV CEO Ataga: ‘I regret that he died’ – Chidinma Ojukwu tells Court

Chidinma Ojukwu has told the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square that she feels remorse over the death of Super TV CEO, Michael Ataga, whose killing she is currently on trial for.

Although she has consistently rejected claims that she murdered Mr Ataga, Ms Ojukwu admitted under cross-examination on Tuesday that she regrets his death.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ojukwu is being tried alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and another defendant, Adedapo Quadri, on allegations bordering on murder, conspiracy and theft. All three have entered not-guilty pleas.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Y. A. Sule led the cross-examination. He asked Ms Ojukwu directly whether she regretted the circumstances that led to Ataga’s death.

Responding before the court, she said she regretted the loss of his life, adding, “I regret that he died.”

She also insisted she was not the last individual to be with the deceased and denied leaving the apartment with any of his devices.

The prosecutor pressed further, confronting her with claims that she left with the late CEO’s gadgets. He questioned her about the phones and a MacBook found with her after her arrest, and whether she understood how such devices functioned.

Mr Sule then presented two receipts said to show transactions she made at Phone Hub, where she allegedly exchanged her iPhone. Ojukwu denied prior knowledge of the documents but confirmed she went to the store to sell her MacBook Pro for N495,000, which she said was paid into her Sterling Bank account.

When the prosecution attempted to submit the receipts as evidence, defence lawyer Onwuka Egwu objected, arguing that the documents were being introduced without prior disclosure. Justice Yetunde Adesanya dismissed the objection and admitted the records as relevant.

The prosecution also questioned whether the laptop sale happened after Ataga’s death. Ojukwu answered that the deal occurred several days after she left the short-let apartment.

She added that her personal information was already saved on the phone retrieved by police and that she continued using it to make calls afterward.

When asked if the MacBook was given to her as a birthday present and whether she had the accompanying receipt, she confirmed both, explaining that the giver also handed her the receipt.

During re-examination, her lawyer questioned her academic history. She told the court she was a 300-level Mass Communication student at the time of her arrest and had no professional background in information technology.

The matter was adjourned until February 9, 2026, for continuation of trial.

NAN adds that Ojukwu is the first witness called by the defence, which intends to present about four witnesses. The prosecution has already called roughly ten.

The case, which dates back to 2021, revolves around the discovery of Mr Ataga’s body in a short-let apartment in Lagos, where he had been staying with Ms Ojukwu.

(NAN)