The atmosphere in Justice Ibironke Harrison's courtroom grew heavy with emotion on Thursday as the second prosecution witness took the stand. Cordelia Onuwabhagbe, a 56-year-old civil servant and single mother, provided testimony that laid bare both the promising life lost and the personal devastation left behind in the murder trial of Benjamin Best Nnayereugo, known as 'Killaboi'.
Led in evidence by Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution Dr. Babajide Martins, Mrs. Onuwabhagbe introduced herself with words that immediately framed the human tragedy at the case's center: 'my name is Cordelia Onuwabhagbe, and I'm a 56-year-old civil servant with 2 children, Hezekiah (26) & Augusta (who would have been 24 this year) but she was murdered.'
The testimony established critical timelines for the prosecution. Mrs. Onuwabhagbe detailed how her only daughter, Augusta, had developed a relationship with the defendant. She specified that on December 1, 2021, Augusta sent her a message revealing she was in a romantic relationship with 'a boy named Benjamin Best Nnayereugo.' This date now serves as a key evidential marker connecting the victim to the accused.
Beyond the legal facts, the testimony painted a vivid portrait of profound loss. Augusta was identified as a final-year, first-class student of Medical Laboratory Science at Lead City University, Ibadan. This detail underscores the narrative of a high-achieving young Nigerian on the cusp of a professional medical career, her potential brutally cut short—a story that resonates deeply with families across Nigeria who invest heavily in their children's education.
The emotional weight of the proceedings was palpable as the grieving mother, a single parent who had raised two children, recounted these details between tears. The case continues as the judicial process seeks to deliver justice for Augusta and her family.
