By Our Correspondent
Four years after her dramatic arrest shook Nigeria’s social media space, Chidinma Ojukwu, the young woman accused of killing Super TV CEO Michael Usifo Ataga, remains behind bars with her once glamorous life now a distant memory.
In June 2021, Chidinma, then a 21-year-old Mass Communication student at the University of Lagos, was paraded by police as the prime suspect in Ataga’s murder. The news dominated headlines for weeks as details emerged of drugs, luxury apartments, and a lifestyle many described as fast and reckless.
Today, at 28, the woman once known as a Lagos big girl spends her days in the confines of Kirikiri Correctional Centre, where she awaits judgment after years of slow court proceedings and repeated adjournments.
Since her arrest, Chidinma’s once-buzzing life has been stripped of the things that defined her youth — social media fame, parties, friendships, and freedom. There have been no birthday photoshoots, no lavish celebrations, no new phones or followers, and no new chapters in the story of her life.
She would probably be using an iPhone 17 by now if she were outside, one social media user recently commented, reflecting on how drastically time has passed for her while technology and life moved on.
During a recent court session, Chidinma told the judge that for the past four years she has had no access to the substances or pleasures that once surrounded her — no drugs, no nightlife, and no intimate relationships.
The case, which began in 2021, has seen several delays but recently entered a crucial phase. Earlier this year, the Lagos State High Court ordered the release of Chidinma’s seized gadgets including iPhones, laptops, and SIM cards to her defense team to aid in her legal strategy.
Chidinma has since opened her defense, telling the court that she was not involved in Ataga’s death. She claimed she found his body lifeless in the apartment they shared and panicked before leaving the scene. The prosecution, however, maintains that forensic evidence links her directly to the crime.
As the trial continues, Chidinma’s story stands as a sobering example of how quickly fame and fortune can vanish. Once seen as part of Lagos youthful elite, she now spends her days waiting for a verdict that could define the rest of her life.
Four years have flown by with no achievements, no celebrations, and no freedom. The world outside has changed, but Chidinma’s world remains suspended in time.
