Drill rapper jailed for 2017 murder of gang rival

Ahmed Deen-Jah was stabbed in the heart in 2017

A drill rapper has been jailed for life for fatally stabbing a gang rival in east London eight years ago.

Lekan Akinsoji and accomplice Sundjata Keita, both aged 27 and from Forest Gate, were found guilty of murdering 21-year-old Ahmed Deen-Jah.

Mr Deen-Jah was chased into an off licence and stabbed near Custom House station on the afternoon of 2 April 2017.

On Friday, Mr Deen-Jah's family attended Akinsoji and Keita's Old Bailey sentencing and described how they were also grieving for his younger brother Junior, who was killed in 2021.

'Unbearable hurt and pain'

Their father Abubakar Jah said he came to live in the UK from Sierra Leone in 1995 hoping for a better life, only for those dreams to be shattered when his older son was murdered.

He said: "Four years after this, having had no justice in Ahmed's case, my younger son Junior was also murdered in April 2021, again this was in close proximity to where Ahmed was murdered."

He said his older son had just "popped to the shop" when he was chased and killed in the "most brutal way".

From left: Lekan Akinsoji and Sundjata Keita were found guilty of murder

Two men were found guilty in 2024 of Junior's killing, but at the time Mr Jah said he was not sure if he would get justice for his other son.

He said losing both of his sons "has caused the most unbearable hurt and pain to me and my family. It is unexplainable."

Their mother Hawa Deen Conteh said the family had been altered forever by the "senseless act of violence" that led to Mr Deen-Jah's death.

Having sat through two murder trials, she said the grief was "indescribable".

She said: "In seeking justice, we pray the court recognises the depth of our loss and the enduring and devastating impact this tragedy has had on our family.

"We hope no other family has to experience the heartache and suffering that we have endured."

Judge Anthony Leonard KC jailed the pair for life, with a minimum term of 28 years for Akinsoji and 22 years for Keita.

Previously, the court had heard how they had donned black clothes, balaclavas and gloves for the "gang ride-out" attack, got out of a stolen black Mercedes car and chased the victim, who ran into BJ Wines off licence.

During a struggle, Mr Deen-Jah was stabbed in the heart by Akinsoji who then ran off with Keita.

An ambulance was called and Mr Deen-Jah, who was known by the street name Grinna, was pronounced dead at the scene, which was 426ft (130m) from his home.

Prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC had told jurors: "This killing was not a spontaneous act of violence, but an attack planned against a background of street violence between two east London gangs.

"Those in the black Mercedes had been on a 'ride-out' - driving to an opposing gang's area looking for rival gang members, or perceived members, to attack."

Ten days before the murder, Akinsoji rapped on a video entitled Armed And Ready about how he intended to avoid getting caught, saying: "No face, no case, no evvy (evidence)."

Mr Deen-Jah was a member of the Custom House gang and Akinsoji admitted being a member of the Woodgrange gang, although Keita denied association.

Keita declined to give evidence in the Old Bailey trial.