A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Adedapo Adegbola, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years for the murder of his former girlfriend, 23-year-old university student, Stephanie Irons.
The court heard that Adegbola became dangerously obsessed after Stephanie ended their relationship and was unable to accept her decision to move on. In October last year, he reportedly followed her to her residence and took advantage of a moment when she briefly stepped outside to gain access to her flat.
While inside, Adegbola attacked Stephanie, stabbing her in the neck. The injury proved fatal, and she died at the scene.
In a disturbing turn of events, the court was told that after the attack, Adegbola remained inside the apartment, sat on a sofa close to her lifeless body, and used her mobile phone to send inappropriate and misleading messages to her friends and colleagues in an apparent attempt to tarnish her image. He later left the apartment, attempted to clean the murder weapon, disposed of some of her belongings, and turned himself in to authorities the following day.
Stephanie’s body was discovered after her colleagues became concerned by unusual messages sent from her phone and went to check on her welfare.
During the sentencing, Stephanie’s parents described their daughter as kind, intelligent, and full of promise, stating that her death has completely shattered their family and robbed her of a bright future.
The judge ruled that the killing was premeditated and driven by obsession, noting that Adegbola deliberately took the life of a young woman whose only desire was to move on with her life.
The case has sparked renewed conversations about domestic violence, obsession, and the tragic consequences of unresolved emotional control.
A truly heartbreaking loss.