LAGOS, NIGERIA — The high-profile murder case involving social media personality Benjamin Best, widely known as Killaboi, has reached a critical phase in the Nigerian judicial system. As of March 5, 2026, formal legal proceedings have intensified following the suspect's successful extradition and handover to the Lagos State Police Command. Killaboi stands accused of the brutal killing of his girlfriend, Augusta Osasedie Onwuwagbagbe, a 21-year-old first-class student of Lead City University, Ibadan.
The Two-Count Charge: Murder and Desecration Killaboi is officially facing a two-count charge brought by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice. The first count is for Murder, an offense that carries the possibility of the death penalty under the Criminal Law of Lagos State. The second count, which has particularly shocked the public, involves tampering with a dead body and the removal of body parts.
When Augusta's body was discovered in Killaboi's apartment at Oral Estate, Ajah, in July 2023, investigators reported signs of extreme violence. Most disturbingly, forensic reports and police statements confirmed that certain parts of her body had been mutilated or removed. While the suspect initially released an online confession admitting to a "heated argument" that led to her death, he has consistently attempted to derail investigations by claiming the act was not premeditated or ritualistic. The prosecution, however, intends to use the desecration of the corpse as evidence of the depravity and intentionality of the crime.
The Long Road to Extradition The current trial comes after a nearly two-year international manhunt. After fleeing the crime scene in 2023, Benjamin Best utilized forged identities to traverse multiple regions, including West Africa and the Middle East. He was first arrested in Freetown, Sierra Leone, under the name "Kanu Princeton Samuel" but managed to escape during a prison break in November 2023.
His run finally ended in Doha, Qatar, where he was operating under the alias "Toure Abdoulaye" with a fraudulent Guinean passport. Through the coordinated efforts of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja and Qatari judicial authorities, he was apprehended and repatriated to Nigeria on April 19, 2025. The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has since assured the public that the Force is committed to a diligent prosecution to ensure justice for the deceased.
Trial and Public Sentiment The case has sparked nationwide outrage, serving as a grim reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the "yahoo-plus" subculture often associated with such crimes. Augusta’s family, who have been relentless in their pursuit of justice, expressed a somber sense of relief that the suspect is finally facing the law on Nigerian soil.
As the trial progresses in the Lagos State High Court, the prosecution is expected to present a mountain of forensic evidence, including recovered items from the crime scene and digital footprints left by the suspect during his flight. If convicted, Killaboi faces the maximum sentence allowed under the law. The proceedings continue to draw significant public interest as Nigerians demand accountability for the tragic loss of a promising young life.
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