KILLABOI TELLS COURT HE ACCIDENTALLY STABBED GIRLFRIEND DURING STRUGGLE OVER KNIFE

By Aishat Momoh. O.

Benjamin Nnayereugo, popularly known as Killaboi, has told a Lagos State High Court sitting at the J.I.C. Taylor Courthouse, Igbosere, that he accidentally stabbed his girlfriend, Augusta Onuwaghagbe, during a struggle over a steak knife.

Nnayereugo, who is standing trial for the alleged murder of the 21-year-old Lead City University undergraduate, gave the account on Thursday while continuing his testimony before Justice Ibironke Harrison.

Led in evidence by his counsel, Marcel Oru (SAN), the defendant claimed that he was attempting to wrest a knife from the deceased after she allegedly threatened to stab him for insulting her mother.

According to him, the incident occurred during a confrontation at his residence in Oral Estate, Ajah, Lagos, following a dispute over their relationship and messages he allegedly discovered on her phone.

The defendant is accused of murdering Onuwaghagbe, an undergraduate and social media influencer, whose body was found in his apartment on July 15, 2023. He was arraigned in November 2025 and pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge.

At the continuation of his evidence, Nnayereugo recounted events leading to the incident, including a prolonged telephone conversation with Augusta on the night of July 11 into the following morning.

He told the court that Augusta had informed him she was no longer interested in their relationship, prompting him to accuse her of taking advantage of him financially during their six-year relationship.

The defendant listed several expenses he claimed to have incurred for the deceased, including a trip to Seychelles in 2022, payment of her school fees in January 2023 and gifts worth approximately N20 million in February 2023.

He said the gifts included diamonds, an iPhone, AirPods and the rental of an entire lounge to celebrate her birthday.

Nnayereugo further told the court that he initially refused Augusta’s request to meet in person but later agreed to see her at his residence on July 12.

He also alleged that a message from Augusta’s mother, which he received while waiting for her, contributed to his suspicion that the deceased’s mother was involved in their relationship dispute.

Narrating the events preceding the stabbing, Nnayereugo said he and Augusta smoked marijuana together before eating and sleeping at his residence.

He claimed that the following morning, he attempted to access her phone to read her WhatsApp conversations with her mother.

According to him, he eventually seized the phone while Augusta was turning to get water from the refrigerator in the bedroom.

He alleged that he discovered messages in which the deceased’s mother had advised her to leave him because he could not tolerate her, as well as conversations he interpreted as evidence that Augusta had been discussing their relationship with her mother.

The defendant said he became angry and insulted Augusta’s mother, describing her as a fake pastor.

He alleged that Augusta reacted by picking up a steak knife from a table and demanding that he return her phone.

Nnayereugo claimed that she stabbed him in both hands during the ensuing confrontation but that he continued holding on to the phone because he wanted her to return gifts he said he had bought for her.

He told the court that Augusta subsequently threatened to stab him in the chest and kill him for insulting her mother, prompting him to attempt to wrest the knife from her.

Describing the alleged struggle, the defendant said he and Augusta held different parts of the knife as he tried to take it away from her.

“We dragged the knife for about 10 minutes. She was holding on to the handle while I held the tip,” he told the court.

He claimed that he eventually moved his hand towards the handle, placing it over Augusta’s hand, before using his strength to wrest the weapon from her.

According to his account, Augusta fell during the struggle, and he subsequently noticed blood coming from her stomach and mouth.

Nnayereugo told the court that he attempted to stop the bleeding by removing the knife from her stomach and pressing a towel against the wound.

He said he pleaded with her not to die and promised that he would no longer end their relationship.

The account represents the defendant’s version of events, and the allegations made during his testimony have yet to be established by the court.

The case was adjourned until December 7 and 8, 2026, for further hearing.

Nnayereugo was extradited to Nigeria after being apprehended in Doha, Qatar, following a period on the run. His trial commenced in 2025, more than two years after Augusta’s death.

The defendant maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. The court will continue hearing evidence as the trial proceeds.