Murder:
Nigerian Fugitive, Kekere-Ekun Gets Life Imprisonment in UK
A
Nigerian fugitive, Abdul Adewale Kekere-Ekun, who was arrested on February 12
this year by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFFC), for identity
theft-related offences, was today sentenced to life imprisonment in the United
Kingdom for the murder of Marcus Hall, 18, in 2001, following a scuffle
outside Luton’s Atmosphere Nightclub, where the popular music group, So Solid
Crew, performed earlier.
Kekere-Ekun,
39, with many aliases like Adebayo Dalvin James Ekun, Adeba Yo Kekere-Ekun,
Adeba Yo Muta Lito Kekere-Ekun, James Dalvin, James Adebayo, had initially
pleaded guilty to the murder charge before the Luton Crown Court, but he later
fled to Nigeria.
A
statement by EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said he was,
however, arrested in Nigeria in February by the commission.
"During
investigation, it was revealed that Kekere-Ekun, who was arrested for fraud,
was on the wanted list of the UK Police.
"Consequently,
an extradition notice signed by the Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, was served on him by the EFCC.
"He
was finally extradited back to the United Kingdom, where he reportedly admitted
to the killing.
"Before
his conviction today, seven of the gang members had been convicted in 2002 and
2003 for their part in Hall's murder, but two convictions were later quashed.
"Revealing
how he had been traced, the Bedfordshire Police said he was identified in CCTV
footage of the attack, where he was wearing a distinctive checked coat.
"Upon
discovery of a flyer for the shop found by the Bedfordshire Police during a
raid on his home, detectives went to a designer clothes store in London,
where it was discovered that the jacket was one of only nine sold in the United
Kingdom and the convict was listed as one of the buyers."
After
the sentencing, Mr. Hall's mother, Icelyn Wilson, in a statement issued through
the Bedfordshire Police, said: ‘‘My son's death still hurts as if it had
happened yesterday and I will never get over it.
‘‘You
did not just ruin one life, you left a 'ripple effect' which has impacted on
everyone involved in my son, Marcus' life."
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