KILLABOI: MOTHER DENIES CLAIMS OF VIOLENCE, INFIDELITY BY SLAIN STUDENT AUGUSTA ONUWAGHAGBE

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The mother of 21-year-old Augusta Onuwaghagbe, allegedly murdered in July 2023, has denied claims that her daughter was violent and unfaithful during her relationship with her boyfriend, Benjamin Best Nnayelugo, also known as Killaboi.

Cordelia Onuwaghagbe, who is the second prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, made the clarification during cross-examination before Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the JIC Courthouse, Igbosere.

Led in evidence by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Babajide Martins, the witness had earlier testified that the defendant had been violent toward her daughter and allegedly confessed to committing the crime before absconding.

At Wednesday’s resumed hearing, defence counsel Marcel Oru (SAN) questioned the witness on the nature of the relationship between the deceased and the defendant.

Cordelia told the court that the defendant frequently visited her home while dating her daughter but insisted she had no knowledge of any criminal tendencies.

She recounted that the couple travelled together to Mauritius and later to Seychelles, where a disagreement occurred during a nine-day vacation.

According to her, the dispute arose when Augusta was recording herself dancing, not engaging in any inappropriate act as alleged. She said the defendant reacted angrily, seized her phone, and smashed it.

The witness also denied claims that her daughter destroyed hotel property during the trip, which allegedly led to the defendant paying about $4,000 in damages.

Under further cross-examination, she rejected suggestions that Augusta was involved in another relationship or engaged in illicit activities, insisting she did not raise her daughter in such a manner.

She also disputed claims that her daughter stabbed the defendant during a fight, stating that the injury on his hand was self-inflicted during the attack that led to Augusta’s death.

Cordelia further told the court that the defendant allegedly took an iPhone he had earlier gifted to the deceased after the incident.

When questioned about financial support, she said she was unaware that the defendant paid Augusta’s school fees—reportedly exceeding ₦1.2 million in 2022 and 2023—but confirmed receiving monetary gifts from him at different times.

She detailed that the defendant gave her various sums, including ₦60,000 in December 2021, ₦100,000 in July 2022, ₦15,000 in January 2023, and later ₦1 million, which she said she saved in a cooperative.

The witness added that she later transferred the ₦1 million to an unidentified individual who claimed to have information on her daughter’s killer.

The defendant is facing a two-count charge of murder but has pleaded not guilty.

Until her death, Augusta, a 400-level student of Medical Laboratory Sciences at Lead City University, was also an online influencer.

The case has been adjourned until April 23, 2026, for continuation of hearing.