The prime suspect in the murder of Usifo Ataga, Chidinma Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos, used the alias ‘Jewel’ to book the short let apartment in Lekki Phase I, Lagos, where the crime took place.
The encounter took a tragic turn when Ojukwu, under the influence of drugs, allegedly stabbed Ataga multiple times with a knife.
Following the incident, Ojukwu fled the scene after withdrawing N380,000 from Ataga’s account using his ATM card. She was later apprehended by the police at her father’s residence on Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba.
During her apprehension, Ojukwu confessed to the crime, attributing her actions to the influence of hard drugs and alcohol.
Various items, including a Nigerian passport, a fake driving license bearing the name ‘Mary Johnson’ with Ojukwu’s photograph, and bank-related cards, were recovered from the suspect by the authorities.
According to preliminary investigation reports, Ojukwu used a foreign phone number and the pseudonym ‘Jewel’ to check into the apartment, inviting Ataga and leading to the tragic events that unfolded on June 16.
The hotel operator, Mrs. Nkechi Mogbo, reported the incident to the police after discovering Ataga’s body in the apartment.
The report revealed that the crime was discovered on June 16 when a cleaner found the door broken and Ataga lying in a pool of blood, with attempts to contact ‘Jewel’ proving unsuccessful.