Mother recounts in tears how daughter was killed by boyfriend

2026-03-06 - 01:37

By Innocent Anaba A 56-year-old mother, Mrs. Cordelia Onuwabhagbe, yesterday, narrated in tears how her daughter, Augusta, was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Benjamin Nnayereugo, popularly known as Killaboi in Aja area of Lagos State, sometime in 2023. Nnayereugo is standing trial before Justice Ibironke Harrison of a Lagos High Court, sitting at Igbosere, over the alleged killing of 21-year-old Augusta Onuwabhagbe. Led in evidence by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Dr. Babajide Martins, Mrs. Onuwabhagbe introduced herself to the court as a civil servant. “My name is Cordelia Okonye. I am 56 years old and a civil servant. I have two children, a boy and a girl. My son is 26 years old, while my late daughter was supposed to be 24 years old, but she was murdered.” She identified the defendant in the dock as Nnayereugo. How relationship began The witness told the court that her daughter first informed her about the relationship in 2021. “As a single mother trying to be careful, I asked her to bring him home,” she said. According to her, Augusta sent her a message on December 1, 2021, informing her that she was in a romantic relationship with the defendant and later brought him home on December 8. “She said she loved him. I accepted him not just as someone interested in my daughter but as a son. He used to come to the house often, we would talk and sometimes eat together,” she said. She told the court that her daughter was a 400-level student of Medical Laboratory Science at Lead City University, Ibadan, and was on track for a first-class degree. Alleged assault during vacation Mrs. Onuwabhagbe recounted that on November 22, 2022, the couple travelled abroad for vacation. She said she had questioned the defendant about the source of the money for the trip, to which he claimed it was from sports betting. However, about seven days into the trip, she received what she described as a disturbing video. “He did not record the part where he beat her. My daughter later told me he abused her, smashed her phone, pulled her hair and beat her, but when she became angry and threw pillows at him, he recorded that part and sent it to me.” After their return, she said, “He came to the house and begged me and my son. He promised that what happened would never repeat itself and said he was not a violent person. “My daughter pleaded with us to allow the relationship continue since he had apologised.” The witness told the court that on July 11, 2023, the defendant called her late at night accusing Augusta of planning to cheat on him. “He claimed that since they started the relationship Augusta had never cheated on him, but that she was planning to do so,” she said. According to her, he admitted impersonating another person online to test her loyalty. “I told him I did not raise my daughter like that,” she said. She said shortly after the call, Augusta contacted her complaining that the defendant had taken control of her Instagram account. “She asked me to tell him to release it and said the relationship would end that day.” She added that her daughter later sent her a troubling voice note. “She said, ‘Mummy, I don’t know. Benjamin has been threatening me. He swore by his mother’s grave that he was going to show me.'” Discovery of death Mrs. Onuwabhagbe told the court that on July 15, 2023, after they could no longer reach Augusta, they traced the defendant’s residence at Oral Estate, Ajah, Lagos, with the help of her daughter’s friend and a military officer. “When we got there, the gate was locked but my daughter’s car was parked inside.” After reporting to the police and gaining entry, her brother climbed a ladder to look through a window. “My brother, Reginald Okonye, climbed to the balcony and shone a torchlight inside and didn’t tell me what he saw,” she said. The following day, the devastating news was confirmed. “In the afternoon, after the arrival of my daughter’s godmother, my brother broke the news that Augusta was dead,” she said, breaking down in tears. Alleged confession, threats She told the court that on July 17, 2023, the defendant went online and wrote that he had a heated argument with Augusta and “mistakenly stabbed her. “He wrote that nobody should pity him and that he would turn himself in,” she said. She added that he later sent her messages. “I told him there was nothing my daughter did that should make you kill her. At one point he sent me an emoji and said I should be strong and that he would take care of me. “I told him a mistake is stabbing someone once and rushing the person to the hospital, but you stabbed her and ran away. That was premeditated.” The witness further alleged that the defendant threatened to release a sex tape of her daughter. “He told me that if he released it to the public, it would not be good for me as a pastor.” She also told the court that the defendant later released an old vacation video online, claiming Augusta was violent and accusing her of “pimping her for rich men.” According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly murdered Augusta at his residence in Oral Estate, Ajah, on July 13, 2023, before fleeing the country. He was later declared wanted and reportedly arrested in Sierra Leone under a false identity but escaped during a prison break. He was eventually re-arrested in Qatar in January 2025 and extradited to Nigeria in April 2025. He has pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge bordering on murder and alleged interference with the corpse. Justice Harrison adjourned the case to April 22 and 23, for continuation of trial, including the tendering of electronic evidence and cross-examination of witnesses.