UK Court Jails Nigerian Man for Life Over Killing of Former Girlfriend

A Nigerian national living in the United Kingdom, Adedapo Adegbola, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his former girlfriend, Stephanie Irons.

The sentence was handed down on Thursday by Judge Nirmal Shant KC at the Nottingham Crown Court, who ordered that Adegbola must serve a minimum of 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.

In his remarks, the judge said the relationship between Adegbola and Ms Irons was brief and began after they met as colleagues at work. He noted that the defendant’s controlling behaviour ultimately led the young woman to end the relationship, a decision he refused to accept.

The court heard that on October 21, 2025, Adegbola travelled to Ms Irons’ home in the Mapperley area of Nottinghamshire, where she was later found dead. She was 23 years old at the time.

Prosecutors told the court that investigations revealed Adegbola had purchased two knives and taken a taxi to the victim’s residence after finishing work on the day of the incident.

Police said Ms Irons died from a knife injury to her neck, while additional injuries on her arms suggested she had tried to defend herself.

Adegbola, 40, pleaded guilty to the charge of murder on January 26, bringing the case to a close without a full trial. The sentencing marks the end of a case that has drawn significant attention in the UK, particularly around issues of domestic abuse and relationship-related violence.