The Nigeria Police Force announced yesterday that it has successfully completed the extradition of Benjamin Best Nnayereugo, popularly known as Killaboi, from Doha, Qatar to Nigeria.
The fugitive, who had been evading arrest for the alleged murder of 21-year-old Miss Augusta Onuwabhagbe, was brought back to Nigeria in the early hours of Saturday, April 19, 2025. His return was the result of a coordinated international effort involving the Federal Ministry of Justice, INTERPOL’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Abuja, and the Qatari judicial authorities.
In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, explained that the extradition process began following a petition submitted by the deceased’s family through their legal representatives on September 29, 2024. The case was subsequently assigned to INTERPOL NCB Abuja for investigation.
Investigations revealed that Benjamin Nnayereugo allegedly murdered Miss Onuwabhagbe, a First Class student of Lead City University, Ibadan, at his residence located at 24A Abiola Apooyi Street, Oral Estate, Ajah, Lagos, on July 13, 2023. After committing the crime, he fled the country and later released a misleading online video purportedly confessing to the act, in what authorities believe was an attempt to derail investigative efforts.
Following his declaration as wanted by the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) on October 13, 2023, an INTERPOL Red Notice was issued for his international apprehension. Nnayereugo was first arrested in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on October 20, 2023, under the alias Kanu Princeton Samuel. However, he escaped custody during a prison break in Freetown on November 26, 2023.
Further intelligence revealed that the suspect continued to move across various regions, including West Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East, using forged identities. He eventually settled in Doha, Qatar, on January 24, 2025, where he lived under the name Toure Abdoulaye with a fraudulent Guinean passport and secured illegal employment while hiding his true identity.
Through strong international collaboration and the application of advanced biometric verification, INTERPOL NCB Abuja, working alongside INTERPOL NCB Doha, confirmed Nnayereugo’s true identity. He was subsequently arrested by Qatari authorities in February 2025.
An official extradition request, processed through the Federal Ministry of Justice, was approved by Qatari judicial authorities, leading to his repatriation to Nigeria.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, commended the successful collaboration between nations in tackling trans-border crimes. He praised the efforts of INTERPOL NCB Abuja, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Government of Qatar, INTERPOL NCB Doha, and the Nigerian Embassy in Qatar for their crucial roles in securing the fugitive’s return. The IGP assured the Nigerian public that the police are committed to ensuring that Nnayereugo faces diligent prosecution as part of their duty to uphold justice and public safety.
Meanwhile, prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, applauded the Federal Government’s cooperation with his law firm, Falana and Falana’s Chambers, which played a significant role in securing the extradition.
Falana also expressed special gratitude to the mother of the deceased, Mrs. Okonye Nneji, for providing vital information that aided in tracking the suspect’s movements after his escape from Nigeria. Emphasizing the importance of citizens’ involvement in the pursuit of justice, he urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in combating impunity.
Given that the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department has concluded its investigation into the case, Falana called on the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, to expedite the prosecution of the suspect to ensure swift justice.
