Alleged M¥rder Case: Bl%%d found on Chidinma’s dress was that of Usifo Ataga – Forensic expert

The DNA bl%%d sample found on Chidinma Ojukwu’s red dress was that of late Usifo Ataga, a witness in the ongoing m¥rder trial of the undergraduate has said.

Dr Richard Somiari, who’s the 11th prosecution witness, is a Director and Consultant for the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre.

He gave his evidence before a Lagos High Court, at Tafawa Balewa Square, on Tuesday, April 16, in Lagos.

Ojukwu, a 300-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, is charged with the m¥rder of Ataga, the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, alongside her sister, Chioma Egbuchu and one Adedapo Quadri.

At the resumed hearing, the witness told the court that he had practised on the area of forensic for a period of 15 years and had conducted over 500 forensic tests.

The forensic analyst told the court that his office received 21 different items on different days from their DNA centre staff members.

He said the items were received for evidence and they included a stained red dress, an army green Tshirt, a DNA sample from Chidinma Ojukwu.

He added that other items received were urine, blood, gastric content and byle which were retained for toxicology report.

He said that the goal was to create an evidence triangle to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim. Somiari said that the DNA on the red dress matched that of the victim, Ataga.

He, however, said that the DNA did not match that of Chidinma and the other suspects, Babalola Disu and Oluwatomi Dada.