Chidinma testified that she took two laptops, an HP and a MacBook, to Computer Village on June 18, 2021—one for repair and one to sell. She claimed the MacBook was a gift and, after negotiating, she sold it for ₦495,000. On June 20, she contacted her sister Chioma, who arrived in Lagos on June 22. Since Chioma had lost her phone in April, Chidinma gave her an old iPhone 7 Plus.
She recounted being arrested by police on June 23, 2021, alleging that she and her father were both handcuffed and taken to Panti. She told the court she informed officers she fled the crime scene out of fear and denied possessing Ataga’s belongings. Chidinma further claimed that a police officer, Bamidele, brought a blank statement form and asked her to write a statement without legal representation. She said when she insisted on having a lawyer present, Bamidele allegedly threatened her with the arrest of her family, including her 10-year-old sister.
According to her, Bamidele tore up her initial statement and forced her to write another version after showing her images from the crime scene. She said he claimed a robe used to tie the deceased belonged to her, which she denied. “I told him I couldn’t have tied Michael up. He was a huge man,” she said.
The trial continues as the court hears further testimony and evidence related to the high-profile case that has drawn widespread public attention since 2021.
