A UK court has found Ben Wazabanga, 23, guilty of murdering Ayowale Aladejana, a 26-year-old Nigerian living in the United Kingdom, following a dispute over money.
The verdict was delivered at Southwark Crown Court, with sentencing scheduled for July 13.
According to the UK Metropolitan Police, investigations revealed that Wazabanga deliberately travelled from Bedford to London to confront Aladejana before fatally stabbing him at his residence in New Cross in August 2025.
Police said extensive CCTV footage, phone records and vehicle-tracking evidence helped investigators build a strong case, showing that the attack was planned and linked to an ongoing financial disagreement between the two men.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene after reports of a stabbing, but Aladejana sadly died from a chest wound despite efforts to save him.
Authorities later tracked Wazabanga’s vehicle and arrested him near Waterloo Bridge after he allegedly attempted to flee while carrying a knife.
Reacting to the conviction, lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Lucie Card described the killing as a calculated and avoidable act of violence, expressing hope that the guilty verdict would provide some comfort to the victim’s grieving family.
The case adds to a growing number of tragic incidents involving Nigerians who have lost their lives in violent crimes in the United Kingdom, raising concerns among members of the Nigerian diaspora.
Source: UK Metropolitan Police
