A 20 years old Nigerian man, sodiq Adeojo has been jailed for 30 years for the gun murder of promising athlete, Sylvester Akapalara in 2010.
Twenty years old Sodiq Adeojo has been sentenced for the shooting of 17-year-old Sylvester Akapalara in Peckham, south-east London.
Sodiq Adeojo, a young Nigerian gang member has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 30 years for the shooting and murdering of a promising athlete. Sodiq’s father, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo is a popular Nigerian politician based in Ibadan.
In December 2010, the deceased athlete, Sylvester Akapalara, 17, was found bleeding to death in the stairwell of a Peckham housing estate of south-east London.
The deceased had been chased by a gang wielding knives and a gun before being shot in the neck and chest, the Old Bailey heard.
Sodiq Adeojo, 20, of Peckham, was found guilty in December last year of murder, two counts of attempted murder as well as the possession of weapons.
While sentencing him to a minimum of 30-year term, Judge Timothy Pontius said Akapalara was “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
He also added that Akapalara was a “promising young athlete of remarkable ability”.
In addition, Adeojo was also handed a concurrent 22-year sentence for attempted murder and 14 years for the possession of a gun.
Three other teenage suspects were cleared and a fifth faces a retrial.
The court heard that Adeojo was a member of a gang who were looking for rival gang members when they came across Akapalara and his friends.
The judge condemned the “mindless and appalling violence” of gang culture.
According to him, “Such is the prevailing culture in areas of London that young men, and mere boys, for whatever reason, seem to be attracted and stimulated by the idea of belonging to a group that does not recognise accepted boundaries of decent human behaviour.”
Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said two of Akapalara’s friends were stabbed as they tried to force their way through the main door of the block of flats.
Neither Akapalara, who was a member of Herne Hill Harriers athletics club, or his two friends lived on the estate.
According to what Penny told the jury, “After a verbal exchange the three were being hunted down by a group of other youths.
“That second group came ready for the task at hand. One had a handgun, the others had knives.”
Andrew Hall, QC, for Adeojo, said: “He was attending college. We are not dealing with a hardened young thug.”
Natalie Williams, whose mother fostered Akapalara, said in an impact statement that his death had left a “massive void”.
She said: “We know he has gone to a better place and is sitting with the angels.
“He was a gifted young man who never got a chance to fulfil his dreams.
“He began living with the family in June 2010. His mother was still living in Nigeria.
“Sylvester was a member of Herne Hill Harriers and was very focused on his athletics.
“At the time of his death he was trying to sort out his passport so that he could compete at an international level.
“My mother has fostered many kids over 20 years and this was the first time she had lost one of her kids in this way.
“She was devastated by the horrific attack on Sylvester that ended the life of such a lovely young man.”
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