Lekan Akinsoji has been jailed for life for fatally stabbing 21-year-old Ahmed Deen-Jah in east London alongside his accomplice, Sundjata Keita

Lekan Akinsoji, a Nigerian man from Forest Gate, east London, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal stabbing of 21-year-old Ahmed Deen-Jah.

Also read: Nigerian man arrested in India for Rs 5.5 Lakh romance scam

His accomplice, Sundjata Keita, also 27, received the same sentence after being found guilty of murder.

The sentencing took place at a London Crown Court, where the judge described the killing as a “callous and senseless act of violence.”

The court heard that the pair launched a brutal knife attack on Deen-Jah following a dispute in east London, leaving him fatally wounded despite emergency efforts to save his life.

According to police investigations, Akinsoji and Keita pursued the victim before attacking him in a targeted assault that shocked the local community.

Both men fled the scene but were later arrested after forensic and CCTV evidence linked them to the crime.

Detectives said the killing was part of a pattern of violent behaviour linked to the suspects’ criminal activities in the area.

During the trial, the prosecution revealed that the men showed no remorse and continued to deny their involvement despite overwhelming evidence.

Sentencing the duo, the presiding judge noted the devastating impact of their actions on the victim’s family and community.

“Ahmed Deen-Jah was a young man with his whole life ahead of him. His family will forever carry the pain of losing him to such senseless violence,” the judge said.

Lekan Akinsoji and Sundjata Keita will each serve a minimum term of more than 20 years before being eligible for parole.

The Metropolitan Police praised the courage of witnesses and the determination of detectives in bringing the killers to justice.

“This conviction sends a clear message that violent crime will not be tolerated on our streets,” a police spokesperson stated.

Also read: Nigerian man convicted of rape arrested by ICE in Baltimore

The tragic killing adds to growing concerns about knife crime in London, with authorities calling for stronger community engagement and early intervention to curb youth violence.