PUNCH
Dr Richard Somiari, a forensic expert in the alleged murder trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, on Tuesday, revealed that the DNA blood sample found on Chidinma’s red dress matched that of the victim, Michael Ataga, the late Super TV CEO.
Somiari, who is a director and consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, gave the evidence before the Lagos State High Court, at the Tafawa Balewa Square.
Ojukwu, a 300-level, Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is being prosecuted for the murder of Ataga, alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri.
At the resumed hearing of the trial on Tuesday, the witness who is the 11th prosecution, told the court that his office received 21 different items on different days from their DNA centre staff members.
The forensic analyst who was led in evidence by the Lagos State Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs Adenike Oluwafemi, told the court that he had practised in the area of forensics for 15 years and had conducted over 500 forensic tests.
According to him, the items that were received for evidence included a stained red dress, an army green T-Shirt, and a DNA sample from Chidinma Ojukwu.
He also told Justice Yetunde Adesanya that other items that were received were urine, blood, gastric content and byle which were retained for toxicology reports.
The witness said the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim.
Somiari said the DNA on the red dress matched that of the victim, Ataga, but it did not match that of Chidinma and the other suspects, who were Babalola Disu and Oluwatomi Dada.
The witness during cross-examination by the first defendant’s counsel, Mr Onwuka Egwu, told the court how the result of the toxicology report was forwarded to the office of the Attorney General of Lagos, Commissioner of Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He, however, said that not all forensic reports went through such procedure.
When asked if he questioned the report given by Dr. Andrea Nuhu, in the United States of America, the witness said, “I have already said that I am not a toxicologist. It is a toxicologist that can do such.”
