A Lagos High Court sitting at the J.I.C. Taylor Courthouse in Igbosere has adjourned proceedings in the ongoing murder trial of Benjamin Nnayereugo, popularly known as Killaboi, until next month for further cross-examination of the mother of the deceased, Augusta Onuwaghagbe.
The trial resumed before Justice Ibironke Harrison, with defence counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Marcel Oru, continuing the cross-examination of 56-year-old Cordelia Onuwaghagbe over the alleged killing of her 21-year-old daughter.
During proceedings, Mrs. Onuwaghagbe told the court that a man claiming to be Killaboi’s father contacted her shortly after the defendant was arrested in Sierra Leone, urging her to meet with the family to “settle” the matter.
She, however, rejected the proposal.
“I told them any discussion would only happen after his extradition to Nigeria,” she testified.
The witness further told the court she had at some point communicated with the defendant after her daughter’s death and disclosed that he sent $1,530 into her account.
She also testified that the defendant had opened a cryptocurrency account for Augusta before her death but maintained the money used to fund the account belonged to her daughter.
Mrs. Onuwaghagbe added that she was unaware the defendant allegedly contributed money toward Augusta’s burial.
Proceedings were abruptly stalled after only a few questions when a power outage disrupted the session, preventing the defence from playing electronic evidence intended to support its case.
Justice Harrison subsequently adjourned the matter until next month for continuation of cross-examination.
Killaboi is accused of killing Augusta at his Ajah residence in Lagos three years ago before fleeing Nigeria.
Following the incident, he was declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force State Criminal Investigation Department, with an INTERPOL Red Notice issued for his arrest.
Authorities said he was first arrested in Sierra Leone under a false identity but escaped during a prison break. Investigators said he later moved across several regions using forged identities before relocating to Doha, Qatar, where he was eventually arrested through international collaboration and biometric verification.
He was extradited to Nigeria last year.
The Lagos State Government subsequently filed a two-count charge against him bordering on alleged murder and indecent interference with the victim’s corpse.
Killaboi pleaded not guilty to the charges upon arraignment.
The case has continued to draw public attention amid growing calls for justice for Augusta.
