News
Nigerian man and accomplice sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in UK
A Nigerian man, Lekan Akinsoji, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for m8rder in the United Kingdom.
Akinsoji, 27, a drill rapper and accomplice, Sundjata Keita, 27, of Cruikshank Road E15, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, 24 October, 2025.
They both received life sentences after the Metropolitan Police linked them to the 2017 murder through DNA evidence.
Akinsoji was jailed for a minimum term of 28 years, while Keita received a minimum term of 22 years.
A jury at the Old Bailey convicted the pair of a m8rder on Thursday, 9 October, in connection with the k!lling Ahmed Deen-Jah in East London.
A m8rder investigation was launched on Sunday, 2 April, 2017, after Ahmed – aged 24 – was stabbed during an unprovoked assault in a convenience store near Custom House station in Newham.
Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, said: “I hope the long sentences provide some measure of closure to Ahmed’s family, who have waited almost a decade for justice.
“Akinsoji and Keita launched a cold-blooded and unprovoked attack. Worse still, they then sought to evade the law – and were able to do so until 2023, when damning forensic evidence came to light.”
On the day of the murder, CCTV showed Ahmed entering the store on Freemasons Road, Newham, at around 15:20hrs, where he bought a cigarette lighter.
He was seen to return to the shop around 30 seconds later, being followed by a man wearing a balaclava. The man chased Ahmed around the shop, before stabbing him and running away. Ahmed was sadly pronounced d3ad at the scene.
Akinsoji and Keita were originally arrested as part of the investigation, within eight days. They were released under investigation as officers continued complex enquiries.
In 2023, an investigation review was carried out which included detailed phone analysis, placing Keita’s phone inside the car used for the m8rder. The car had travelled to Epping Forest following the murder, where it was later found on fire.
An evidence package – including forensic results from a knife sheath found close to the scene and DNA findings from the victim’s hand – was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service. This had shown a match for the two men’s DNA.
Following this breakthrough, the men were rearrested on Friday, 25 October, 2024, and subsequently charged with m8rder.
A trial for the two men began on Monday, 8 September. The court heard how Ahmed’s murder was a result of “tit for tat” violence between gangs, and that both men had been driving around the area in a stolen car, looking for people they suspected being in a rival gang.
CCTV played in court showed Akinsoji ambushing Ahmed and following him into the shop, before st@bbing him.
Following the conviction, Ahmed’s father said he was “overwhelmed with relief” for his mental health and thanked police for working hard to bring the killers to justice.
News
Police arrest herbalist, step-brother over murder of 22yr old yahoo boy in Delta
Police detectives from Agbor Area Command have arrested a twenty year old herbalist, Amechi Okwuokenye and his elder step-brother over the alleged abduction and murder of a suspected internet fraudster, Friday Liberty, aged 22 years in his shrine at Owa-Alidima in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State.
The herbalist was arrested at his shrine on 23rd October 2025. He and his suspected accomplice are currently in police custody.
The Police also recovered the corpse of the deceased from the suspect’s shrine and deposited same in the mortuary.
Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe confirmed the report in a statement sent to newsmen in Warri.
The statement said, “It was a case of the hunter becoming the hunted, when on the 30th of September 2025, Mr Friday Liberty, aged 22 years old, visited his herbalist, whom he had known for some time now, but this time, he never returned. The family, who initially didn’t know what had happened to their brother, started looking for him.”
“The girlfriend of the deceased then informed the family that she heard a conversation about the said Friday liberty and a certain herbalist, and advised that they should reach out to the said herbalist.
“The family contacted the herbalist, who denied seeing him but promised to do some spiritual incantations so their brother could return alive.
“Having spent money on the herbalist, and the result was not forthcoming, they then reported the matter at the Agbor Area command via a petition on 14th October 2025.
“And this decision proved to be the turning point in the case as the area command detectives embarked on an intelligence-led investigation.
“During the course of the investigation, the detectives uncovered the last person whom Friday Liberty contacted, and found out it was the same herbalist who denied knowing his whereabouts.
Surveillance was laid around his shrine at Owa-Alidima in Ika North East LGA, for days, until he was arrested on 23rd October 2025, in his shrine while hiding inside a refrigerator.
“Upon his arrest of the herbalist Amechi Okwuokenye, aged 20 years, confessed that both he and his brother Smart Okwuokenye, aged 26years, kidnapped the victim liberty Friday and the motorcycle rider identified as Isioma Ugbeje, who carried him to the shrine.
“They further stated that Friday Liberty has been his long-time customer who frequently visits him to hypnotise clients so they could give him money easily( in his words, ‘to tie clients ‘).
“The herbalist said his elder brother approached him that he needed money and advised him to lure any of his clients so they could kidnap him and ask for ransom, and the unlucky person they could lure was Liberty Friday.
“They kidnapped him and the Okada Rider and demanded a ransom of N10,000,000. When they noticed that the plan was not working, they murdered him and the motorcycle rider and dumped their bodies in a soak away pit by the shrine.”
SP Edafe stated that the suspects are in custody, and the remains of the victims have been evacuated and deposited at the mortuary for autopsy.”
He added that, “The commissioner of Police, Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda assures the public that the command will ensure that justice is served in this case.”
News
Lagos police arrest Chinese national over Ikeja CCTV shop explosion
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a Chinese national in connection with the recent improvised explosive device (IED) blast that rocked a CCTV camera shop on Kodesho Street, Ikeja.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, picked up the suspect, identified as Joe Gu, around 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, at his residence, No. A11, Bila Vista, Banana Island, Ikoyi.
According to the sources, the arrest followed ongoing discreet investigations into the explosion, after the complainant named the Chinese businessman as a possible mastermind of the attack.
Preliminary findings indicated that the suspect and the complainant had a prior business relationship that deteriorated in 2013 after a disagreement.
“It was further gathered that during the fallout, the suspect allegedly threatened to disrupt the complainant’s business operations,” the source revealed.
The police confirmed that the suspect is currently in custody as investigations continue to establish his role and possible motive.
The command assured that updates on the case would be made public as soon as new information emerges, reaffirming its commitment to uncovering the truth behind the explosion.
News
Tompolo denies issuing 21-Day ultimatum to FG over Kanu release
High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has disowned a social media publication claiming he gave the Federal Government 21 days to release Nnamdi Kanu.
In a statement signed by his Media Consultant, Paul Bebenimibo, Tompolo said he has nothing to do with the matter and described the publication as false and mischievous, alleging it was the handiwork of his enemies determined to discredit him over his ongoing fight against illegal crude oil activities in the Niger Delta region.
The statement further reaffirmed Tompolo’s loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his support for the President’s renewed hope agenda. It added that Tompolo remains committed to the total eradication of illegal oil activities and stands firmly behind President Tinubu’s administration and second-term ambition.
“The Federal Government and the general public should disregard the said publication in its entirety. High Chief Government Ekpemupolo has nothing to do with the issue of Nnamdi Kanu and remains focused on his duties in protecting the nation’s oil assets.”
The statement concludes by urging Nigerians to ignore fake news aimed at causing division or mischief within the Niger Delta region
THN reported that the self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, was unable to begin his defence on Friday in his ongoing terrorism trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu told the court he could not proceed because he had not been given access to the case file, which he said is necessary for him to adequately prepare his defence.
-
News3 days agoDozens displaced, properties destroyed as Lagos Govt demolishes Costain Market
-
News5 days agoReps to intervene in face-off btw PENGASSAN, Dangote refinery
-
Business5 days agoTCN announces outages in Enugu, Abuja
-
Business2 days agoNigerian petrol marketers to dump Dangote Refinery for cheaper imported fuel
-
News5 days ago
‘I’m under custody at Kuje prison- Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Ejimakor speaks from detention
-
News4 days ago
Police arrest trigger-happy cop over road shooting in Delta
-
Business2 days agoFuel landing cost drops, now cheaper than Dangote Refinery’s petrol price
-
News4 days agoSpeaker Abbas mourns Niger tanker explosion victims
-
News5 days agoZamfara Govt seals two private schools over safety, regulatory violations
-
News5 days agoAzubuike apologises to Lagos govt, monarch, renounces ‘Obi of Lagos’ title
-
News4 days agoOndo govt confirms DSS security alert over planned attack

