Trial judge, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, gave this order after dismissing the no-case submission of the second and third defendants in the case.

The Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, on Thursday, ordered Chidimma Ojukwu’s co-defendants to open their defence.

Trial judge, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, gave this order after dismissing the no-case submission of the second and third defendants in the case.

The second and third defendants are Adedapo Quadri and Chidinma’s sister, Chioma Egbuchu.

The judge then adjourned the case till February 20, 2025, for continuation of trial.

The first defendant in the case, Chidinma Ojukwu, is charged with the murder of the Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Michael Usifo Ataga. She was charged alongside Adedapo Quadri and Chioma Egbuchu for Ataga’s murder.

Ojukwu 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.

Ojukwu and Quadri were alleged to have conspired and murdered Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him several times with a knife in the neck and chest.

The incident occurred at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

At the resumed hearing of the trial on Thursday, the second and third defendants who had earlier filed a no-case submission, challenging the trial, asked the court to dismiss all charges against them insisting that no case had been made against them to warrant their making a defence.

Through their lawyers, Babatunde Busari, for the second defendant and M.I, Otuaka for the third defendant, they argued that the prosecution had failed to establish any material evidence against their clients.

The state’s prosecution counsel, Yusuf Sule, in his response raised objections to their submissions and asked the court to dismiss the no-case submission applications.

He said, “The prosecution has put forward material evidence linking the second defendant to the charges against him. We call upon him to enter his defense.”

“In response to the third defendant’s application, the prosecution filed a response on November 27, 2024, as per argument in response to this case. We urge the court to dismiss the application for a no-case submission as the prosecution has established material evidence of a stolen phone in the case.

“We, however, call upon the third defendant to enter her defence.”

After listening to the arguments of all counsel in the matter, Justice Yetunde Adesanya dismissed the no-case submission of the second and third defendants.

She ordered them to open their defence and adjourned the case till February 20, 2025, for the second defendant tomorrow start his defence in continuation of trial.