Emotions resurfaced at the Lagos State High Court sitting at Igbosere on Thursday as the court admitted a written statement and interrogation video of Benjamin Nnayereugo, popularly known as “Killaboi,” in the ongoing murder trial over the death of his girlfriend, Augusta Onuwabhagbe.
The proceedings before Justice Ibironke Harrison followed earlier emotional testimony from the deceased’s mother, Mrs Cordelia Onuwabhagbe, who had told the court that she once regarded the defendant “like a son” before her daughter’s death shattered the family.
An investigating officer with the State Criminal Investigation Department, DSP Oderinde Gafar, told the court that the defendant was tracked, arrested in Doha, Qatar, and extradited to Nigeria through international security collaboration.
According to the witness, Nnayereugo voluntarily wrote his statement after he was returned to Nigeria for prosecution.
“The defendant wrote his statement himself during the investigation,” Gafar told the court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Adedayo Haroun, tendered the written statement without objection from defence counsel, while a video showing the statement-taking process was played in open court.
The courtroom session renewed public attention on the testimony earlier given by Augusta’s mother, who recounted how the defendant became close to her family before the tragic incident.
“Until this ugly incident that led to my daughter’s death, he was like a son to me. He came to my house, ate, rested and slept, but I didn’t know he was a killer,” she had told the court during cross-examination.
Mrs Onuwabhagbe said she only discovered the defendant was known as “Killaboi” after her daughter’s death. She added that he attended her church on two occasions and appeared to be a responsible young man.
She further testified that the relationship between her daughter and the defendant became troubled during a trip to Seychelles in 2022, where she alleged signs of physical abuse first surfaced.
According to her, disputes reportedly arose after the defendant complained about Augusta posting bikini videos online.
The witness rejected claims by defence counsel, Mr Marcel Oru (SAN), that her daughter was violent or irresponsible, insisting that nothing justified her killing.
“I don’t know, but that’s no reason to kill my daughter,” she said in response to allegations concerning Augusta’s past relationships.
The court also heard that the defendant allegedly fled Nigeria after the incident and moved across different countries using false identities before he was eventually arrested in February 2025 through biometric verification and international cooperation.
Nnayereugo is facing charges bordering on murder and alleged indecent interference with the corpse of the 21-year-old, who reportedly died at his Ajah residence on July 13, 2023.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Harrison subsequently adjourned the matter to June 17 and 18, 2026, for continuation of trial.
Reporting by Wahab Akinlade