A Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), yesterday admitted in evidence, the two hand written statements made by Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged killer of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, 49.
Trial judge, Justice Yetunde Adesanya, in her ruling, said the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt, the voluntariness of the defendant’s statements.
In the course of the trial within trial, the defendant had objected to the admissibility of her confessional statements to the police, alleging they were made under duress.
Ojukwu, through her counsel, Onwuka Egwu, alleged that she was slapped and forced to sign statements not voluntarily made by her.
The former 300-level Mass Communication undergraduate of the University of Lagos, was charged with alleged murder of Ataga, theft and forgery, alongside one Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.
At the resumed hearing, Justice Adesanya, said it was settled law that before a statement would be admissible, the defendant must be advised of his or her rights.
She said that the defendant must be made to understand the rights and must be cautioned before his or her statements would be taken.
The judge said the defendant had alleged that she was physically abused and threatened.
Adesanya said: “The videos tendered in court did not display any intimidation towards the defendant while she was writing her
