Murder: Nigerian bags life imprisonment in UK

A Nigerian fugitive, Abdul Adewale Kekere-Ekun, has bagged life imprisonment in the United King-dom for the murder of an 18-year-old Marcus Hall in 2001. 

Kekere-Ekun, 39, was arrested on February 12, 2015 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), for identity theftrelated offences.
While investigating him, EFCC discovered that he killed Hall in 2001, following a brawl outside Luton’s Atmosphere Nightclub, where the popular music group, So Solid Crew, had performed. The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the life jail verdict, said that Kekere-Ekun, who goes by several 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, he later fled to Nigeria. He said: “He was, however, arrested in Nigeria in February by EFCC.
During investigation, it was revealed that Kekere-Ekun, who was arrested for fraud, was on the wanted list of the United Kingdom 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.”
Kekere-Ekun was finally extradited to the United Kingdom, where he reportedly admitted to the killing. “Before his conviction today (yesterday), 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,” said Uwujaren. Revealing how he had been traced, the Bedfordshire Police said Kekere- Ekun was identified in CCTV footage of the attack, 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, Hall’s mother, Icelyn Wilson, in a statement issued through the Bedfordshire Police, was quoted to have 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.”