The trial of Chidinma Ojukwu charged with the murder of late Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga, was on Monday stalled due to prosecution witness’ lack of composure.

The undergraduate is facing trial along with her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and Adedapo Quadri.

On Monday, the Lagos state counsel, Yusuf Sule, told the court that the fourth prosecution witness arrived at the court from Asaba in the morning and was not composed to testify.

“We will be asking for an adjournment till tomorrow, November 30, to enable the witness to settle down,” he said.

Ms Ojukwu’s counsel, Onwuka Egwu, did not object to the application.

Mr Quadri’s counsel, Babatunde Busari, did not also oppose the application but said that the prosecution should have called other witnesses.

Ms Egbuchu’s counsel, O.A. Ogunsanya, submitted that the adjournment would be in the interest of justice.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya consequently granted the oral application and adjourned the case until Tuesday for the continuation of trial.

At the last adjourned date, a businessman and the third prosecution witness, Ifeoluwa Oluwo, testified that he bought the late Ataga’s Apple MacBook laptop from Ms Ojukwu for N495,000 on June 18.

He told the court that it was after the sale of the laptop that he saw Ms Ojukwu’s face on social media being accused of murder and, therefore, kept the transaction documents safe.

The three defendants were arraigned on October 12 on a nine-count charge preferred by the Lagos state government.

Ms Ojukwu and Mr Quadri are facing the first to eight counts of the charge which border on conspiracy, murder, stabbing, forgery, making of bank statements and stealing.

The third defendant, Ms Egbuchu, is facing the ninth count which is stealing an iPhone 7 belonging to Mr Ataga.

The first and second defendants – Ms Ojukwu and Mr Quadri – are alleged to have conspired and murdered Mr Ataga on June 15, 2021, by stabbing him severally with a knife in the neck and chest.

(NAN)