Lagos Court Admits Killaboi’s Statement, Video in Trial Over Girlfriend’s Death
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 trial over the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Augusta Onuwabhagbe.
The development came weeks after the deceased’s mother, Mrs Cordelia Onuwabhagbe, tearfully told the court how she once treated the defendant “like a son” before her daughter’s death shattered the family.
During Thursday’s proceedings before Justice Ibironke Harrison, an investigating police officer from the State Criminal Investigation Department, DSP Oderinde Gafar, narrated how the defendant was tracked, arrested in Qatar, and extradited to Nigeria through international security collaboration.
According to the witness, Nnayereugo voluntarily wrote his statement during interrogation after he was returned to Nigeria to face prosecution.
“The defendant wrote his statement himself during the investigation,” Gafar told the court.
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Adedayo Haroun, tendered the written statement without objection from the defence, while a video recording showing the statement-taking process was also played in open court.
The courtroom proceedings revived public attention on the emotional testimony earlier given by Augusta’s mother, who had recounted how the defendant became close to her family before the tragedy.
“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.
The grieving mother said she only became aware that the defendant was known as “Killaboi” after her daughter’s death.
Read Also: Augusta Onuwabhagbe Murder Trial Continues Tomorrow After First Prosecution Witness Testifies
She also recalled that the defendant attended her church on two occasions, adding that she believed he was a responsible young man.
Mrs Onuwabhagbe further testified that the relationship between her daughter and the defendant became troubled during a trip to Seychelles in 2022, where she alleged the first signs of physical abuse emerged.
According to her, the defendant had complained that Augusta was recording videos of herself in bikinis for online posts, leading to arguments between them.
The witness rejected suggestions 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 about Augusta’s past relationships.
The court also heard how the defendant allegedly fled Nigeria after the incident and moved across countries using false identities before he was eventually arrested in Doha, Qatar, in February 2025 through biometric verification and international cooperation.
Killaboi is facing charges bordering on murder and alleged indecent interference with the corpse of the 21-year-old, who was said to have died at his Ajah residence on July 13, 2023.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following Thursday’s proceedings, Justice Harrison adjourned the matter to June 17 and 18, 2026, for continuation of trial
