NEWS: Ataga’s Murder: Witness reveals how he bought deceased’s laptop

In connection with the murder of Super TV Chief Executive Officer, Usifo Ataga, the third prosecution witness, Mr. Ifeoluwa Oluwo, has disclosed how he bought the deceased’s Apple MacBook laptop from Chidinma Ojukwu, the 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, the alleged murderer of Ataga.

According to the witness, Chidinma Ojukwu, sold the laptop to him at the rate of N495,000, after negotiations on June 18, 2021, two days after the body of Ataga was found at the short service apartment in Lekki.

Oluwo said the above while testifying before Justice Yetunde Adesanya of the Lagos State High Court, Tafa Balewa  Square (TBS).

It was learnt that the witness had been in the business of buying and selling phones (new and fairly used), laptops and accessories at Computer Village for five years.

The witness told the court that it was after the sale of the laptop that he saw Ojukwu’s face on social media, regarding the charge levelled against her.

He added that he, thereafter, ensured that all documents as regards the transaction were kept handy.He identified the first defendant (Chidinma), and said that she was a customer who  purchased a phone on April 30, 2021, and  sold the deceased’s laptop to him on June 18, 2021, at the same office.

Oluwo said: “I asked her (first defendant) to unlock the laptop and she did; so I conducted my internal observation, which included speed performance, the circle count of the battery and general functionality.

“After that, I proceeded to ask questions; do you have a receipt for this laptop? She replied that it was a gift from her boyfriend, and that she had two laptops and needed to sell one to pay some bills.

“I conducted a check on Apple website for my market evaluation; I confirmed the value of the laptop, from Apple website, found my mark and market valuation, $1,000 to $1,200; the exchange rate of dollars as at that time was N400 to N450.

“She wanted to sell for N600,000 and we were able to negotiate for N495,000, which I initiated from my UBA account to her Sterling Bank account,” he said.When asked by the first defendant’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, during cross-examination, if he was shown any documents, receipts or proof of ownership to show that the laptop was not for the first defendant, he said no.