Associates of the late CEO of Super TV Usifo Ataga have countered reports by some online media that an alleged mistress stabbed him to death with multiple wounds found in several parts of his body after they lodged in a place in the Lekki area of Lagos.
The reports also said the sum of N5m was withdrawn from his bank account and his phones, debit cards and other valuables reportedly missing.
One of the deceased’s friends who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on behalf of the family told PUNCH that the Mr Ataga was on the verge of “one of the greatest breakthroughs Nigeria has ever seen” through his media establishment, Super TV, a mobile-enabled platform with two major telecommunication multinationals on board to create affordable subscription rates.
The source said the multiple stabs suggest of torture and that someone probably wanted him out of the way.
Another friend, Rotimi Albert, whose relationship with the Super TV boss began in 1982 at the Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State, and continued into the University of Benin and beyond, described him as a God-fearing, kind and loving man, who had a positive effect on the lives of everybody he came in contact with.
But Lagos police commissioner Hakeem Odumosu told the newspaper that efforts were on to arrest the fleeing suspect, a female, adding that the victim and the suspect had been lodging in the apartment.
The apartment did not have CCTV camera. Though it was gathered the manager of the facility is being questioned by the police.
Mr Odumosu stated that the victim met the suspect in the apartment, adding on the day of the incident, the victim was scheduled to travel to Abuja to celebrate his birthday with his family.