*Facts about Roofies, the hard drug that Chidinma took
By Ben Ekezie
As the world awaits the outcome of further investigation into the gruesome murder of Super TV CEO, Mr. Usifo Ataga, the alleged suspect 21-year-old 300 level student of the University of Lagos, Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu who confessed to the crime claimed that she dropped out school due to lack of funds.
Now at the Lagos State Criminal Investigative Department (SCID), Panti, Chidinma narrated that ever since her parents separated, she could barely go through any level of education without dropping out of school. “After the COVID 19 total lockdown, my father could not afford to pay my school fees so I stayed away. I was raised by an aunt when my parents separated. My dad is an accountant while my mum is a trader.
I know she is in Lagos but I don’t talk to her. She abandoned us. I went to government primary school at Ilasa before I relocated back to Alagomeji where I attended Secondary School. I stopped at Junior Secondary School 2 due to lack of finance.
I later switch over to Senior Secondary School 1 and then stopped again due to lack of finance. I managed to write WAEC as a private candidate and JAMB, Luckily I got admission into University of Lagos where I am currently studying Mass Communication.”
On her alleged wild lifestyle, Chidinma said that she has friends in school who loves partying and once in a while she will join them.
“I am an introvert but once in a while I will join friends to attend parties. It was during my second year that I was introduced to these hard drugs. The first time I took it, I became high and passed out. I later recovered and gradually my body became use to it. I take those drugs to feel good at a party. We took it that day to get in the mood.”
Begging for mercy, Chidinma said that if given a second chance she will be satisfied with life and live a modest life.
“I regret my actions, if I have the opportunity to go back to the beginning, I will face my life and stay away from clubbing. I want to use opportunity at advice you girls that they should face their education and live a modest life.”
Facts about Roofies, the hard drug that Chidinma took
During her confession, Chidinma alleged that the deceased gave her Roofies about an hour before the unfortunate incident. Roofies is a street name for Rohypnol also known as Forget-me pill, Mexican Valium and date rape drug.
Rohypnol is a tranquilizer about ten times more potent than Valium. The drug is available as a white or olive-green pill and is usually sold in the manufacturer’s bubble packaging. Users crush the pills and snort the powder, sprinkle it on marijuana and smoke it, dissolve it in a drink or inject it.
Rohypnol has been used to commit sexual assaults because it renders the victim incapable of resisting, giving it the reputation of a “date-rape” drug.
Rohypnol users often describe its effects as “paralyzing.” The effects start twenty to thirty minutes after taking the drug, peak within two hours and may persist for eight or even twelve hours. A person can be so incapacitated (made unable to act) they collapse. They lie on the floor, eyes open, able to observe events but completely unable to move.
Afterwards, memory is impaired and they cannot recall any of what happened. The person may experience loss of muscle control, confusion, drowsiness and amnesia.
Rohypnol is sold in Europe and Latin America as a sleeping pill, but it is illegal in the United States.
Her arrest
On her arrest, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu. stated that a case of murder was transferred from Maroko Division of the Command to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti Yaba, for discreet investigation.
“The fact of the case is that on June 15, 2021 at about 5pm, one Chidimma Adaora Ojukwu, a 300 level, undergraduate of the University of Lagos, conspired with others, now at Large, and allegedly murdered 50-year-old Michael Usifo Ataga by stabbing him severally with a sharp object at a Short Service Apartment, situated at No 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki, phase 1, Lagos.
“The prime suspect, Chidinma, who had earlier booked for the apartment on June 13 secretly, left the apartment after the deed had been done on June 15 at about 5.30pm. Luckily, the suspect was tracked and arrested in her resident at No. 57, Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba-Lagos on Wednesday June 23, 2021 at about 9pm and she is being paraded today.
“During the search of her apartment, the prime suspect who is Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos, was caught with a blood-soaked cloth, ostensibly worn on the day of the incident. The suspect confessed to have stabbed the deceased with a kitchen knife after a struggle.
She further confessed to have taken the knife away while leaving the scene and disposed same in a dust bin at her residence. It has also been revealed that the suspect equally stole the deceased iPhone.
“Investigation is ongoing to arrest other accomplices. However, the case will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded,” CP Odumosu stated.
He promised that the command will intensify efforts in carrying out thorough investigation into the matter, apprehend and bring other culprits involved in the heinous crime to face the full weight of the law and justice done in the matter.
