The 21-year-old undergraduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Chidinma Ojukwu has pleaded with the family of the CEO of Super TV, Mr Usifo Ataga to forgive her for allegedly killing their son.
While the Lagos State Police command has begun investigation into the incident that led to the death of Ataga, Chidinma said that she regretted killing her victim as she pleaded that she doesn’t want to die over the case.
Chidinma, who was paraded by the Lagos State Police Command had during her bold face confession stated that she and the deceased were at a service apartment in the Lekki Area of Lagos on June 15, 2021 when she stabbed him to death.
Checks show that Chidinma might risk a death penalty sentence should she be convicted of the allegation against her.
A death penalty sentence is authorized by Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. Capital crimes include murder, terrorism-related offenses, rape, robbery, kidnapping, sodomy, homosexuality, blasphemy, adultery, incest, assisting the suicide of a person legally unable to consent, perjury in a capital case causing wrongful execution, treason, some military offences like mutiny and practice of indigenous beliefs in states applying Shariah law.
However, Chidinma, who spoke with the Punch during an interview session pleaded for mercy, saying that she regretted killing the Super TV CEO.
She was quoted as saying, “I regret killing Mr Ataga. I don’t know what my future holds but I don’t want to die. Please, I don’t want to die because of this case. I have not killed before.
“I was just trying to comport myself to answer questions during the parade and not that I am not showing remorse. I totally regretted everything I did and I am sorry. Mr Ataga’s family, I am deeply sorry for what I did. If I had my life back, I wouldn’t do anything like that. I am deeply sorry and I hope you forgive me.”
Speaking further, Chidinma blamed her action on the influence of hard drugs and alcohol.
Chidinma in her confession, stated she and Ataga were lodged in a service apartment in the Lekki area of Lagos State and were smoking and drinking before they had argument and she stabbed him twice.
The New Diplomat had also reported that the duo allegedly took Rohypnol while in the service apartment.
Rohypnol is known to be a tranquilizer which is very potent. Users always crush the pills and snort the power, smoke it, dissolve it in a drink or inject it.
Speaking with the Punch, Chidinma stated that she has been smoking since she got admitted into UNILAG. According to her, she was influenced by some of her friends in the institution.
“I started smoking after I got into UNILAG. I am the one smoking in the trending video. I started smoking a few years ago. Old-time friends introduced me to it and we don’t talk anymore. Everything started after I entered UNILAG, but not actually when I am in school, it could be other places. But I am not the one in the other video (dissociating herself from another trending video showing a lady exhibiting her butt).”
“Mr Ataga was a friend and I don’t know how to elaborate more. He has not shown me pictures of his family but he sometimes acts like he was married and not that he is married (sic). I have met him up to four or five times; he takes drugs and drinks alcohol. It is not that I am trying to put anything together,” she added.
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