The son of popular Ibadan based politician Alhaji Yekini
Adeojo, Sodiq Adeojo, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his
involvement in the murder of 17 year-old Sylvester Akapalara on December 29,2010
Sylvester Akapalara, 17, was
found dying in the stairwell of the Pelican estate, in Peckham, south east London
He had been chased by a gang
brandishing 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 and having weapons.
Sentencing him to detention for
life with a minimum term of 30 years, Judge Timothy Pontius said Sylvester was
“in the wrong place at the wrong time”.
He said Sylvester was a
“promising young athlete of remarkable ability”.
Adeojo was also given concurrent
22-year sentences for attempted murder and 14 years for having the gun.
The court heard that Adeojo was
a member of a gang who were looking for rival gang members when they came
across Sylvester and his friends.
The judge attacked the “mindless
and appalling violence” of gang culture.
He said: “Such is the prevailing
culture in areas of London
Duncan Penny, prosecuting, said
two of Sylvester’s friends were stabbed as they tried to force their way
through the main door of the block of flats.
Neither Sylvester, who was a
member of Herne Hill athletics club, or his two friends lived on the estate.
Mr 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.”
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