Chidinma Ojukwu, the prime suspect in the killing of Super TV CEO, Michael Ataga, told the Lagos State High Court on Wednesday that she regrets his death.
reports that Ojukwu made the comment while testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya at the Tafawa Balewa Square division of the court.
She is standing trial alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu, and one Adedapo Quadri on charges bordering on murder, conspiracy and stealing.
During cross-examination by prosecuting counsel, Y. A. Sule, Ojukwu was questioned about the phones and MacBook recovered from her at the time of her arrest, as well as her knowledge of how mobile devices and laptops function. The prosecution also confronted her with allegations that she took Ataga’s gadgets after his death.
Ojukwu and the late Ataga had reportedly lodged together at a short-let apartment in Lagos, where his body was later discovered in a pool of blood.
The prosecution presented two receipts linked to transactions with Phone Hub, where she allegedly swapped her iPhone. Although Ojukwu said she had no prior knowledge of the documents, she admitted visiting the store to sell her MacBook Pro for N495,000, which was paid into her Sterling Bank account.
While the prosecution sought to tender the documents as exhibits, defence counsel Onwuka Egwu objected, arguing that they amounted to an ambush, as they had not been previously disclosed as required by law.
Justice Adesanya overruled the objection and admitted the receipts as relevant evidence.
Under further questioning, Ojukwu confirmed that the transaction occurred days after she left the apartment. She also acknowledged that her personal details were found on a phone recovered from her and that she used the device to make calls after leaving the scene.
When asked whether the MacBook was a birthday gift and how she obtained the receipt, she replied: “Yes, it was a birthday gift and the person who gave it to me also gave me the receipt.”
Responding to whether she was the last person to see Ataga alive, she said she was not. She further denied leaving the apartment with any of his gadgets.
And when asked if she regretted his death, she answered, “I regret that he died.”
Ojukwu told the court she was a 300-level Mass Communication student before her arrest and had no expertise in information technology.
Her testimony marked the first defence witness called by her legal team, who said they plan to call about four witnesses. The prosecution had earlier called more than 10 witnesses.
The case, which began in 2021, was adjourned to February 9, 10, 17 and 23, 2026, for continuation of trial.
