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Lekan Akinsoji, a UK-based Nigerian, and his accomplice, Sundjata Keita of St. Margaret’s Court, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2017 murder of 22-year-old Ahmed Deen-Jah in East London.
The sentencing, which took place at the Old Bailey—the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales—on Friday, comes after both men were found guilty of murder on October 9.
According to a statement released by UK police, Akinsoji, 27, who was listed as having no fixed address, will serve a minimum of 28 years, while Keita, 27, will serve a minimum of 22 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, expressed hope that the verdict would bring closure to the victim’s family after nearly a decade-long wait 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,” Allen said.
The case dates back to April 2, 2017, when Deen-Jah was fatally stabbed during an unprovoked assault inside a convenience store near Custom House station in Newham. Initial arrests of both suspects in 2017 did not result in charges due to insufficient evidence, leading to their release while investigations continued.
However, a 2023 case review uncovered critical forensic and phone evidence. Investigators found that Keita’s phone was inside the getaway vehicle, which was later discovered burned in Epping Forest, a move believed to have been an attempt to destroy evidence.
Prosecutors told the court that the killing stemmed from an ongoing feud between rival gangs. Both men were reportedly driving a stolen car around the area that night, targeting suspected members of an opposing group. CCTV footage presented in court showed Akinsoji ambushing the victim and pursuing him into the store before carrying out the fatal stabbing.
Detectives described the act as “ruthless and senseless,” emphasizing that the successful conviction highlights the effectiveness of renewed investigative techniques and persistent efforts by the Metropolitan Police.
With the sentencing now finalized, the long-running investigation into one of East London’s most chilling gang-related murders has finally reached its conclusion.
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