A defence witness yesterday told the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square that social media reports alleging that Benjamin Nnayerugo, popularly known as Killaboi, murdered his girlfriend for ritual purposes discouraged him from surrendering to the police.

The witness, Babs Anipasa, testified before Justice Ibironke Harrison in the ongoing trial of Nnayerugo, who is standing trial over the alleged murder of Miss Augusta Onuwabhagbe.

Anipasa, a lawyer, said the defendant was introduced to him by a man identified as Emmanuel and later contacted him to explain that an argument with his girlfriend had resulted in her death.

He told the court that he immediately advised Nnayerugo to surrender to the police and contacted a senior police officer, Godfrey Sorowi, to facilitate his arrest and subsequent handover to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.

According to the witness, Nnayerugo initially agreed to the arrangement and informed him that he was in Badagry. However, at about 5:30 a.m. the following day, the defendant repeatedly called him while he was praying. After returning the calls, Nnayerugo asked him to check social media, where reports alleged that he had killed his girlfriend for ritual purposes.

“I checked and saw the reports. When I called him back, he said he believed it would be dangerous to surrender because he feared mob action,” Anipasa told the court.

Under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Adebayo Araba, the witness admitted that he could not recall when he first became aware of the case and confirmed that he never met the defendant in person during the period.

He also acknowledged that he did not report to the police after learning that Nnayerugo had fled the country and did not make any further efforts to persuade him to surrender.

Opening his defence, Nnayerugo described his relationship with the deceased as loving until disagreements over expensive gifts, particularly luxury cars, began to strain it.

The software developer and sports bettor told the court that after buying himself a Porsche worth about N100 million in January 2023, Augusta demanded a Range Rover Velar valued at about N55 million as her birthday gift.

He said she rejected his offers of a Ford Mustang and a Honda Accord, insisting that other influencers drove more expensive vehicles.

He further testified that despite financing her birthday celebration, including gifts, accommodation and jewellery, disagreements over luxury cars persisted, especially after he won substantial sums from sports betting.

Justice Harrison adjourned the case until October 21 and 22, 2026, for continuation of hearing.