Richard Somiari, the 11th prosecution witness in the murder trial of Chidinma Ojukwu, testified that the DNA blood sample found on the accused’s red dress matched that of the victim, Usifo Ataga.
Somiari, a director and consultant at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, has 15 years of experience in forensics and has conducted over 500 forensic tests.
The evidence triangle aims to link the suspect to the crime scene and the victim, with the DNA on the red dress matching that of Ataga.
However, Ojukwu’s DNA did not match that of the other suspects, Babalola Disu and Oluwatomi Dada.
The toxicology report results were subsequently shared with the attorney general of Lagos, the police commissioner, and the director of public prosecutions.
Somiari, a director and consultant at the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, has 15 years of experience in forensics and has conducted over 500 forensic tests.
During cross-examination, it was revealed that some samples were stored but not tested.
According to Justice Yetunde Adesanya, the trial continues on May 30.
The charges against the defendants are as follows: Ojukwu and Mr Quadri: Conspiracy, murder, and stabbing (counts one to eight). Chioma Egbuchu: Theft of an iPhone 7 belonging to Ataga (ninth count).
Ojukwu, Quadri, and Egbuchu were arraigned by the Lagos State government on October 12, 2021.
