Alleged Murder: Ataga’s Blood Matches Stains on Chidinma’s Cloth, Court Told

Wale Igbintade

A prosecution witness, Dr. Richard Somiari, in the murder trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, yesterday, told a Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square that the DNA blood sample found on Chidinma’s red dress matched that of the victim, Michael Ataga.

Chidima, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, was charged with the murder of Ataga, alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri.

At the resumed hearing, Somiari, who is a director and consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensic centre, told the court that he had practised in the area of forensic for a period of 15 years and had conducted over 500 forensic tests.

He was led in evidence by the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Adenike Oluwafemi.

The forensic analyst told the court that his office received 21 different items on different days from their DNA centre staff members.

He said the items were received for evidence and they included a stained red dress, an army green T-Shirt, a DNA sample from Chidinma Ojukwu.

He said other items received were urine, blood, gastric content and bile, which were retained for toxicology report.

Somiari said the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim.

Somiari said 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 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 State, Commissioner of Police and director of public prosecutions.

He said not all forensic reports went through such procedure.

When asked if he questioned the report given by Dr. Andrea Nuhu, 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.

While the video was playing, he asked the witness whether the samples of blood on the cotton, the wall, duvet, white polo the victim was wearing, were tested.

But when the witness answered that the samples were not submitted, he said the markers indicated in his report had nothing to do with the video.

He had earlier said some samples were in storage but not tested.

The second defendant counsel, Mr Babatunde Busari, also cross-examined the witness.

He asked if any DNA sample was taken from the second defendant, (Quadri), the witness said no.

The counsel also asked the witness if he took part in the toxicology analysis, to which he answered no.

The third defendant counsel, Ms C. G. Ugochikwu, said she had no examination for the witness.

After listening, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, adjourned the case until May 30 for continuation of trial.

Chidima is 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.