Ex- Nigerian boyfriend jailed for life after stabbing UK student to death
A UK court has handed a life sentence to a 40-year-old man, Adedapo Adegbola, for the murder of his former girlfriend, 23-year-old university student Steph Irons, in Nottingham, England.
According to reports by The Irish Sun on Thursday, Adegbola fatally stabbed Irons at her home in the Mapperley area of Nottingham on October 21, 2025, following the end of their brief relationship. The two had met while working together and separated shortly before the killing.
Prosecutors told Nottingham Crown Court that Adegbola became fixated on Irons after their breakup and deliberately planned the attack.
READ ALSO: Court sentences man to death for raping 15-year-old boy
The court heard that he lay in wait for her and ambushed her as she stepped outside her home to take out the rubbish bins, before forcing his way inside and stabbing her multiple times.
Concern was raised when Irons’ colleagues received a series of alarming messages sent from her phone. Police later went to her residence, where they found her body in the living room with multiple stab wounds. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
After the attack, Adegbola fled the area, dumping bloodstained clothing and other items along streets in Mapperley and Carlton, Nottinghamshire Police said.
READ ALSO: Queen Irene Onwuka appointed special envoy for education by International Forum for Peace and Diplomacy
He then travelled through several towns, including Mansfield, Worksop, Sheffield and Hull, before eventually surrendering himself to the police.
Although he refused to answer questions during police interviews, detectives said they were able to piece together his movements before and after the killing through extensive investigations.
Adegbola pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 25 years before he can be considered for parole.
READ ALSO: UK launches £12.4 million programmes to support Nigeria’s economic reforms
Reacting to the verdict, the lead investigator, Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, described Irons as a “caring and compassionate young woman” whose life was taken in “horrific circumstances.”
He noted that Adegbola made no attempt to seek medical help for the victim after the attack, focusing instead on escaping and disposing of evidence.
READ ALSO: UK set to return $9.5 million in recovered funds to Nigeria
“I want to thank Miss Irons’ family for the incredible strength they have shown throughout this process,” Barson said. “I hope this outcome helps them begin to come to terms with such a devastating loss.”
In a victim impact statement, Irons’ mother said she was shattered by her daughter’s death, describing the loss as unbearable.
The family remembered Steph as a loving and compassionate person with strong ambitions, noting that she had planned to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology after completing her degree and master’s programme.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
