A United Kingdom court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Adedapo Adegbola, to life imprisonment for the murder of his former girlfriend, Stephanie Irons.
The sentence was delivered on Thursday by Judge Nirmal Shant KC at Nottingham Crown Court, with the court ruling that Adegbola must serve a minimum of 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.
While passing judgment, the judge described Adegbola as controlling during the relationship and noted that his inability to accept its end ultimately led to the tragic incident. Judge Shant stated that Adegbola “was not prepared to accept that the relationship had ended.”
The court heard that Adegbola, aged 40, fatally stabbed 23-year-old Stephanie Irons in the neck at her residence in Mapperley, Nottinghamshire, on October 21. He pleaded guilty to the charge of murder on January 26.
Investigations revealed that on the day of the attack, Adegbola bought two knives and later took a taxi to Ms. Irons’ home after finishing work. According to Nottinghamshire Police, Ms. Irons died from a deep stab wound to the neck, while defensive injuries found on her arms suggested she struggled to protect herself during the assault.
The killing has sparked widespread shock and condemnation within the local UK community and among Nigerians both at home and abroad.
