Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, said Chidinma Ojukwu, the alleged murder suspect of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, wasn’t forced to sign statements.
Adesanya stated this on Thursday while admitting the two handwritten statements made by Chidinma.
The judge said that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the voluntariness of the defendant’s statements.
She said this while ruling on the trial within the trial where the defendant had objected to the admissibility of her statements.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that Chidinma through her counsel, Onwuka Egwu, alleged that she was slapped and forced to sign statements, stating that the statements were not voluntarily made by her.
The defendant, who is standing trial for the alleged murder of Ataga and is also charged with stealing and forgery alongside one Adedapo Quadri and her sister, Chioma Egbuchu.
At the resumed hearing, Justice Adesanya said that it was settled law that before a statement would be admissible, the defendant must be advised of his or her rights.
Adesanya said: “The videos tendered in court did not display any intimidation towards the defendant while she was writing her statements.
“The voice of the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, was clear and audible. It did not show any form of intimidation.”
The judge, therefore, admitted the two statements in evidence and adjourned the case until May 30 for a continuation of the trial.
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