A Nigerian man, Lekan Akinsoji, and his accomplice, Sundjata Keita, both aged 27 and residents of Forest Gate, East London, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Ahmed Deen-Jah.
The sentencing, delivered at the Old Bailey, follows their conviction for murder. Akinsoji, identified as a drill rapper, is to serve a minimum of 28 years, while Keita will serve at least 22 years before being eligible for parole.
According to court proceedings, the murder took place on April 2, 2017, during a planned gang-related attack.
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Both men were said to have worn black clothing, balaclavas, and gloves before setting out on what prosecutors described as a “gang ride-out.”
The pair reportedly chased Deen-Jah, known on the streets as Grinna, into an off-licence near Custom House Station, where Akinsoji stabbed him in the heart.
The victim died at the scene, just metres away from his home.
Prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC told the court that the killing was “not a spontaneous act of violence,” but rather “an attack planned against a background of street rivalry between two East London gangs.”
Rap Lyrics and Evidence
Ten days before the incident, Akinsoji appeared in a drill music video titled Armed and Ready, where he rapped the lyrics: “No face, no case, no evvy (evidence).”
During the trial, Keita refused to testify or offer any evidence in his defence.
The victim’s father, Abubakar Jah, who migrated to the UK from Sierra Leone in 1995, said the tragedy had torn his family apart.
“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.
Ahmed’s mother, Hawa Deen Conteh, described her son’s death as a “senseless act of violence” that changed the family’s life forever.
“We hope no other family has to experience the heartache and suffering that we have endured,” she added.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.