A Nigerian fugitive, Abdul Adewale Kekere-Ekun, who was arrested on
February 12, 2015 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFFC, for identity theft-related offences, has been sentenced to life
imprisonment in the United Kingdom for the murder of 18-year-old
Marcus Hall in 2001, following a brawl outside Luton’s Atmosphere
Nightclub, where the popular music group, So Solid Crew, had
performed.
Though 39-year-old 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, 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.
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, 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.”
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