Nigerian Man, Accomplice Jailed for Life Over Fatal Stabbing in East London

A Nigerian man, Lekan Akinsoji, and his accomplice, Sundjata Keita, both aged 27 and from Forest Gate, have been sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Kingdom for the murder of 21-year-old Ahmed Deen-Jah in east London.

According to the ruling at the Old Bailey, Akinsoji — a drill rapper — must serve a minimum of 28 years, while Keita will serve at least 22 years before being eligible for parole.

The court was told that on April 2, 2017, the two men, dressed in black with balaclavas and gloves, launched a planned gang “ride-out” and chased Deen-Jah into an off-licence near Custom House station, where Akinsoji fatally stabbed him in the heart. Deen-Jah, also known by his street name Grinna, died at the scene, just a few metres from his home.

Prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC told the court,

“This killing was not a spontaneous act of violence, but an attack planned against a background of street violence between two east London gangs.”

Evidence presented during the trial showed that just ten days before the murder, Akinsoji appeared in a drill music video titled Armed and Ready, in which he rapped the lyrics:

“No face, no case, no evvy (evidence).”

The victim’s father, Abubakar Jah, who moved from Sierra Leone to the UK in 1995, spoke of his family’s devastation.

“Four years after this, having had no justice in Ahmed’s case, my younger son Junior was also murdered in April 2021… Losing both of my sons has caused the most unbearable hurt and pain,” he said.

His mother, Hawa Deen Conteh, described the murder as a “senseless act of violence” that had permanently scarred their family.

“We hope no other family has to experience the heartache and suffering that we have endured,” she said.

During the trial, Keita chose not to give evidence, while Akinsoji maintained his innocence despite overwhelming forensic and CCTV proof linking him to the attack.

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