Gang murder: UK court jails Nigerian drill rapper, accomplice for life

A Nigerian-born drill rapper, Lekan Akinsoji, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Kingdom for his role in the 2017 murder of 24-year-old Ahmed Deen-Jah in East London.

Akinsoji, 27, was convicted alongside his accomplice, Sundjata Keita, also 27, of Cruikshank Road, E15. The duo appeared before the Old Bailey Court on Friday, October 24, 2025, where they were handed life sentences. Akinsoji will serve a minimum of 28 years, while Keita received a minimum term of 22 years.

The Metropolitan Police said DNA evidence was pivotal in linking the pair to the fatal stabbing, which occurred on April 2, 2017, during an unprovoked attack inside a convenience store near Custom House station in Newham.

CCTV footage showed Ahmed entering the store to buy a cigarette lighter, only to return seconds later being chased by a masked man. He was stabbed multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene.

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Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, described the attack as “cold-blooded and unprovoked,” adding that the duo evaded justice until 2023 when forensic breakthroughs emerged.

Akinsoji and Keita were initially arrested within eight days of the incident but released under investigation as detectives pursued complex leads. A review of the case in 2023 revealed phone data placing Keita inside the getaway car, which was later found burnt in Epping Forest.

Further forensic analysis of a knife sheath and DNA from the victim’s hand confirmed the involvement of both men, leading to their re-arrest in October 2024 and subsequent murder charges.

During the trial, which began on September 8, prosecutors told the court the killing was part of a “tit-for-tat” gang feud. The defendants had reportedly been cruising the area in a stolen vehicle, targeting suspected rivals.

CCTV played in court showed Akinsoji ambushing Ahmed and following him into the shop before carrying out the fatal attack.

Reacting to the verdict, Ahmed’s father expressed relief, saying the long-awaited justice had brought peace to his family after nearly a decade of anguish.

The case has reignited concerns over gang violence and the role of drill music in fuelling street-level feuds in parts of London.

Gang murder: UK court jails Nigerian drill rapper, accomplice for life