Chukwuanugo, 37, in tears, told Justice Adedayo Akintoye that he loved Lizzy 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 Lizzy with a wrapper 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 police operatives from Nigeria and the International Police (INTERPOL) while fleeing with the deceased’s Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).
The state called five witnesses, following which it closed its case.
At the resumption of hearing yesterday, Chukwuanugo was led in evidence by his counsel, C. J. Jiakponna.
The defendant narrated how he met Lizzy, a divorcee mother of four, in Ghana sometime in 2012 and how they became lovers.
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 lovers.”
Chukwuanugo said they became so close that he could even play with her children.
He said Lizzy helped him to obtain international passport and a driver’s licence, which both bore a name similar to hers, to make it look like they were husband and wife.
The defendant told the court that he once took Lizzy to his village, saying they attended clubs together.
“On the day of the incident, the deceased went out and stayed out till midnight and did not answer my calls.
“She came back drunk, playing music loudly in her car. I took her and her belongings inside the house.
“I told her to take her bathe because she smelled badly. As she went inside the bathroom, I called her phone to check if it was actually on silence, but the phone rang out.
“She came out to answer the call, but found out that I was the one calling.
“After some time, the phone rang again, a man’s picture showed. I picked it and the man said: ‘Baby are you home?’
“She came out, tried to snatch the phone from me. We started quarrelling and struggling with the phone.
“She held my manhood so hard and I tried to free myself. Then I held her neck.
“The wine on the table, which I was drinking, poured on the floor. We slipped and fell. I saw that I was bleeding, so I entered the bathroom to clean up.
“When I came out, she was still lying on the floor, motionless. I shifted her and saw that she was already foaming in the mouth.
“I didn’t know what to do. So, I took the car’s key and an ATM card and ran away,” he said.
Chukwuanugo said when he was arrested, he was taken to hospital for treatment.
His lawyer, Jiakponna, made an application to the court to allow him subpoena (summon) the hospital to come and testify.
He also asked the court to allow him apply to the police to produce the defendant’s international passport, drivers’ licence and the ATM card seized from the defendant.
Justice Akintoye adjourned till May 10 for further hearing.
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