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The family of late super TV CEO, Mr Michael Usifo Ataga has demanded the re-investigation of the entire Usifo murder case in a more properly and more professionally way.
The family conveyed their request in an open letter dated August 25,2021 to the Inspector General Of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, the lawyer representing the family, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN .
He also urged the IGP to hand over the findings of its re-investigations to the Lagos State DPP to properly and formally re-arraign Chidinma Ojukwu; and the other co-accused persons who had already been charged before a Chief Magistrate court and hurriedly granted bail. These are the persons of Babalola Disu; Ojukwu (Chidinma’s alleged father or “sugar daddy”); Jessica Egbochi; Abayomi Olutayo; and, Ifeoluwa Olowu; and any other person(s) whom the Police investigation may still throw up as having been linked to Usifo’s beastly and cold-blooded murder.
He implored the police boss to stop his officers to immediately halt any further funny and phony parade of Chidinma, or allow her access to media interviews.
He said these invariably lead to total trivialisation and mockery of a serious crime of brutal murder committed against Usifo, claiming that such parades also have the unsalutary effect of negatively impacting on the societal values and the morals of Nigerians, especially the youth, who may erroneously, but unwittingly, behold Chidinma as a heroine.
According to him, the assassination of Mr Usifo Ataga has since been in the public domain, having been made so by the Commissioner in Charge of the Lagos State Police Command, Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, when he paraded the prime suspect, Miss Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu (“Chidinma”), before the media on the 24th of June, 2021. Consequently, the whole world has been following the murder’s unfolding melodrama with keen interest, to know the way and manner that Nigeria’s criminal justice system works and how justice is eventually served to the suspect, the victim and the society itself.
He added: “The entire family, relations, friends, admirers, business associates and well-wishers of Usifo Ataga are greatly appalled, disgusted and pained, that rather than engage in a quiet, calm, secret and professional investigation of this dastardly act of murder to unravel the gruesome circumstances surrounding it and immediately arraigning the suspect (and others who may have been involved) to court, the Police was busy, serially parading Chidinma before the media, in the most detestable and unsympathetic manner of a celebrated Hollywood, Nollywood and Bollywood film star. Chidinma was made to appear in different apparels, with carefully packed and made-up hairstyles, occasionally allowing a smile to play on her lips; with her mouth pouted in a sneering manner. Why and by whom was Chidinma allowed access to make-up materials and artistes at a time she was being detained for a crime as serious as murder?
“This entire murder case has so far been most unprofessionally handled and perhaps deliberately bungled. But why should this be the case? The Ataga family (our client) has already pointedly accused the Police of deliberately bungling the investigations, so as to allow some major suspects escape justice, or give them soft landing by arraigning them before a Chief Magistrate court and slapping their wrists with lesser offences.
“We are only urging your Officers sir, to do their job properly and professionally. We are not asking for, and we do not intend to ask for, any special favours. Usifo and his family also do not intend to, either. We just want justice – pure and undiluted justice. Your duty is quite clear under the law, as severally expounded by Nigerian courts.
“We shall ensure that justice is not only done, but is seen by the whole world to have been manifestly done. Consequently, we shall leave no stone unturned in seeing that justice is served to the eternal memory of late Mr. Micheal Usifo Ataga.
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