John Chikezie and Akeem Nafiu 
kechi Mogbo, owner of the short service apartment where the Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Michael Usifo Ataga was allegedly murdered, yesterday narrated before a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, how the deceased’s lifeless body was found.
Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is currently standing trial for allegedly killing Ataga by stabbing him to death at No. 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos. Mogbo made the revelation yesterday while testifying as the first prosecution witness (PW1) against Ojukwu and two other defendants: Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri.
Testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya, the witness said that she deals on female shoes and has a selfservice apartment, rented out for short service accommodation. According to her, the apartment is fully furnished like a normal house with cable TV subscription, a 24- hour power services and a well equipped kitchen. She said couples, workers, students and people from out of town who come in for weddings were categories of people who book the apartment. She added that the apartment could be booked online or through referrals from agents. While led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, the witness narrated how she got a call from a private number on June 13, 2021, requesting for a short let service apartment. Mogbo said: “on June 13, at about 4:00p.m., a lady (suspect) called me on phone with a private number and requested for the apartment.
“The lady requested to see the apartment to ensure that the facilities were up to the standard she needed. “I asked the lady (suspect ) to send a message to me through WhatsApp so I could forward the address to her, which I did. “I called my security guard at the apartment and informed him that someone was coming to check the place “Afterwards, the lady through WhatsApp message confirmed to me that she would take the apartment for three days.
“She mentioned that her name was Jewel and I forwarded payment details, thereafter, she sent proof of payment of N125,000 to my WhatsApp. “The payment was made through a Guaranty Trust Bank account from one Mr Michael Usifo, which had a time and date of transfer and my name as recipient.
“The security guard handed her the key to the apartment, but two days later (June 15) at 5:30pm, the lady sent message to my WhatsApp stating that her friend would stay for two more days and that he would be making the payment. “A second payment of N50, 000 for the two extra days was made from the same GTb, account on June 16, 20201, at 10am.
“The payment was made from the first initiator which was Mr Michael and I confirmed receipt. A couple of hours later, she put a call across to her security guard on another issue upon which he made a remark that they have just noticed a body on the ground of the said apartment.” The witness further added that Chidinma left the service apartment before the billed day she was to leave. “I got off the phone and tried to reach the lady, I put a call across to her but she cut the phone. She then sent a message to me that she was in a meeting, I carried on saying the payment which was made in the morning, wasn’t credited so can you kindly make the payment because I need a receipt. “I panicked when my security guard told me about the body. I asked about the lady, because the guard confirmed that the lady who booked the apartment was with one guy.
They said she left a night before at about 7:30 to 8pm. “I hung up the phone and tried to reach out to the lady, but she didn’t pick my call. I sent her a message because I didn’t want her to know what I was aware of. I also tried to do something to initiate conversation, which I told her the later payment didn’t come through which I confirmed in the morning,” Mogbo said. The witness added that Chidimna told her she would reach out to her friend to make the payment, adding that few minutes later she got another N50,000 from the same initiator and same account of Gtb bank belonging to Mr Michael.
“When she made the payment, I was already on my way to the property so that I can get what really happened. “A couple of hours later, I sent her a message that I have received the first payment of N50,000 and that I have given the security man the extra N50,000, for her to pick it up from the security. “She didn’t come, she sent a message that she would use it to pay for two more days for her friend, I reported the incident at the Maroko Police Station, they followed me to the apartment, they took pictures and I followed them back to make statement on what I know.
