‘I mistakenly strangled my girlfriend to death because of phone’

A murder suspect, Kelechukwu Chukwuanugo, on Tuesday told a Lagos High Court in Igbosere that he strangled his girlfriend, Lizzy Nzewi, to death by mistake during a struggle for her phone.

Chukwuanugo, 37, in tears, told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that he loved Nzewi and had no intention of killing her.

The defendant spoke while opening his defence to a one-count charge of murder preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

Prosecuting Counsel Yusuf Sule said Chukwuanugo strangled Nzewi to death with a wrapper at about 2pm on July 19, 2014, at Plot 34, Green Estate, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.

He said the offence contravened Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty, following which he was remanded in prison custody.

During trial, the court heard that Chukwuanugo fled and was arrested at the border between Ghana and Cote D’Ivore by operatives from Nigeria and the International Police (INTERPOL) while fleeing with the deceased’s Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV.

The state called five witnesses, following which it closed its case.

At the resumption of hearing Tuesday, Chukwuanugo was led in evidence by his counsel, C. J. Jiakponna.

The defendant narrated how he met Nzewi, a divorcee mother of four in Ghana sometime in 2012 and how they became lovers.

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He said: “I met Lizzy in Ghana, where I was working with a company that dealt in fairly-used clothes.

“She bought goods and we exchanged contacts that was how we became boyfriend and girlfriend.”

According to him, they became so close that he could even play with her children.