Benjamin Best Nnayereugo, popularly known as Killaboi, has given evidence in his own defence at the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere, where he is standing trial for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Augusta Onuwabhagbe (also spelled Onuwaghagbe in some reports). He testified before Justice Ibironke Harrison on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
He told the court he accessed Augusta’s Instagram account after she returned to school and noticed conversations with unfamiliar accounts, some later deleted. He said he then found messages from an account called “Yako,” created a WhatsApp account using the identity associated with it, and continued the conversation with her, during which she allegedly quoted ₦1.5 million for a proposed meeting. He told the court that he later offered ₦800,000, that she allegedly rejected it, and that he then confronted her during a video call and ended the relationship. He said the discovery left him emotionally distressed. The judge adjourned the trial to Thursday, October 22.
These claims are the defendant’s own account. The court has not found them to be true, and Augusta cannot answer them. He has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent until a court decides otherwise.
What the Case Is About and What Has Been Said in Court So Far: The Charges and Earlier Evidence (Background to the Trial)
The Lagos State Government charged Nnayereugo in June 2025 with two counts: indecent interference with Augusta’s corpse, contrary to Section 165, and murder by stabbing, contrary to Section 222 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on November 17, 2025. He was extradited from Qatar in April 2025, according to a court report. Prosecutors said Augusta, 21, was killed at his home in Ikota, Ajah, on July 13, 2023. She was a 400-level Medical Laboratory Science student at Lead City University, Ibadan, and an online influencer.
The trial opened in March 2026. A police inspector told the court how the decomposing body was found at his residence, and the judge admitted a handwritten note as evidence despite the defence’s objection that it was doctored. The prosecution’s first witness, an uncle of Augusta, said the defendant had posted online confessions admitting he killed her after a quarrel. These are prosecution claims, and the defence has the right to challenge them.
When the defence opened its case, its first witness, a lawyer, told the court that Nnayereugo decided not to surrender to police out of fear of a mob attack. The mother’s evidence was also heard. Mrs Cordelia Onuwabhagbe said she regarded the defendant as a family member and never believed he was capable of killing her daughter. Under cross-examination, she denied claims that her daughter had been violent or unfaithful. So the claims now repeated by the defendant have already been disputed by the victim’s family.
Allegations About a Dead Woman’s Private Life Are Not Proof of Anything: How to Read Defence Testimony (Weighing What Is Said in Court)
It helps to be clear about what court testimony is. A witness, including a defendant, tells the court his account. The other side can question it, and the judge decides what to believe. Until the judge rules, a defendant’s description of what a victim allegedly did is only a claim.
That matters here because the claims are about private messages and sexual conduct, and the person they concern is dead. The defendant himself told the court that Augusta’s mother objected to his accessing her daughter’s account, saying it was wrong and an offence. We do not know how the court will weigh any of this, and neither messages nor an alleged motive would excuse a killing if the court finds he committed one.
The defence counsel also raised concerns about playing a video in front of Augusta’s mother and brother, saying he did not want to cause them further emotional distress. That consideration is a reminder that the family sits in the courtroom and hears everything.
Violence Between Partners Is a Wider Problem: Past Cases and National Figures (Intimate Partner Killings in Nigeria)
This trial belongs to a wider pattern. The National Demographic and Health Survey found that 36 percent of ever-married Nigerian women have experienced spousal violence, and 55 percent of women who experienced physical or sexual violence never sought help. A policy brief by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies cited reports of a 240 percent rise in femicide (the killing of women because they are women) in January 2025 compared with the previous year. Such figures are hard to confirm, and poor record-keeping hides the real numbers.
Other cases show the same danger after a relationship breaks down. In July 2022, Ogun police said a man burnt his estranged wife to death after she left him because of domestic violence. In January 2026, Kebbi police said a man was arrested for allegedly killing his wife. These cases involve different people, and none decides the Lagos trial.
What a Trial Like This Does to a Family and to Public Attitudes: Effects (Consequences)
The first effect is on Augusta’s family. Her mother has already testified and been cross-examined. Hearing a defendant describe her daughter’s alleged private conduct is painful, especially when the claims are not proven.
The second effect is on public attitudes. When allegations about a victim spread online, some people begin to blame the victim, as if her alleged behaviour could explain violence. That response can discourage women from speaking up, and it ignores the fact that responsibility for any killing lies with the person who commits it.
The third effect is on the justice process. A fair trial protects the defendant’s right to present a defence. It also needs to protect witnesses from harassment, and the court from public pressure. Fair reporting helps by separating what is claimed from what is proved.
For the country, high-profile trials teach the public how the justice system works. If this one ends with a clear, well-reasoned judgment, it can strengthen trust. If it is overshadowed by rumour, it can do the opposite.
Reporting, Judging and Responding Responsibly: Practical Steps for the Court, the Media and the Public (Possible Solutions)
The court can keep the trial focused on evidence and protect witnesses from unnecessary distress, as the judge and counsel have done by considering the family’s feelings about the video. The prosecution and defence should present the facts that bear on the charges, and the judge will decide their weight.
Journalists can help by labelling testimony as testimony, reporting the other side’s response, including the mother’s denial, and avoiding headlines that suggest a victim is to blame. We suggest a neutral headline that focuses on the defendant’s evidence and the next hearing.
The public can wait for the verdict, avoid spreading unproven claims about Augusta’s life, and treat the family with respect.
For people in relationships, there are clear signs to take seriously, including controlling behaviour, threats and violence. Anyone who feels unsafe can tell a trusted person, keep records, and contact the police or a state agency that handles domestic violence. We offer this as general advice. Leaving a controlling partner can be dangerous, so safety planning with support is important.
Digital privacy is also a point of concern. Checking someone’s private accounts without permission is a serious breach of trust, and, as Augusta’s mother reportedly said, may be an offence. Couples who have doubts are better off speaking directly or seeking counselling.
A Fair Trial for the Accused and Dignity for the Dead: Our Closing Reflection (Justice, Evidence and Respect)
We believe the defendant is entitled to a full and fair hearing, and the court must examine his account carefully. That is how justice works.
We also believe that a victim who cannot speak deserves protection from rumour. Her mother has told the court that the claims about her daughter are not true, and the judge will decide. Whatever the verdict, no argument about a partner’s alleged behaviour can justify taking her life, and it should never be treated as an excuse for violence.
We urge readers to follow the trial through careful reports, and we urge everyone to avoid passing judgment on a young woman who is no longer here to respond. We will report on the next hearing and the court’s decision.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
