A United Kingdom court has sentenced two men, Lekan Akinsoji and Sundjata Keita, both aged 27, to life imprisonment for the 2017 murder of 21-year-old Ahmed Deen-Jah in east London.
The sentencing followed their conviction on October 9, 2025, at the Old Bailey, after a lengthy trial. On Friday, October 24, the judge handed Akinsoji a minimum term of 28 years and Keita 22 years before they can be considered for parole.
The case dates back to April 2, 2017, when Deen-Jah was fatally stabbed during an unprovoked attack at a convenience store near Custom House Station in Newham, east London. CCTV footage captured the victim entering the shop, only to be chased moments later by a masked man dressed in dark clothing who stabbed him multiple times.
Although Akinsoji and Keita were initially arrested during the early stages of the investigation, they were released due to insufficient evidence. The case was later reopened in 2023 following a forensic review that uncovered new evidence — including DNA traces linking the suspects to the scene and mobile phone data placing Keita inside the car used in the attack.
Police later discovered that the getaway vehicle had been driven to Epping Forest and set ablaze to destroy evidence.
Prosecutors told the court that the killing was connected to gang-related “ride-out” violence prevalent in parts of east London. They also presented a video recorded ten days before the attack, in which Akinsoji was seen performing a rap titled “Armed and Ready” that included the lyrics, “No face, no case, no evvy (evidence).” The prosecution argued the video demonstrated premeditation and an intent to avoid prosecution.
Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen, who led the investigation, said she hoped the sentences would bring “some measure of closure” to Deen-Jah’s family after nearly a decade of waiting for justice. She described the murder as “cold-blooded and unprovoked,” adding that advancements in forensic science were crucial in solving the case.
Deen-Jah’s father, Abubakar Jah, expressed deep sorrow during sentencing, revealing that his younger son, Junior, was also murdered in 2021 in a nearby area. “Losing both of my sons has caused the most unbearable pain to me and my family,” he said.
His mother, Hawa Deen Conteh, described Ahmed’s death as an act of “senseless violence” that forever changed their lives, urging society to do more to prevent similar tragedies.