LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR OBSESSED KILLER: Nigerian Man Adedapo Adegbola Jailed 25+ Years for Murder of Ex-Partner in UK

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A Nigerian national, Adedapo Adegbola, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 25 years before parole eligibility for the premeditated murder of his former partner, Stephanie Irons, a 23-year-old psychology graduate, at Nottingham Crown Court.

Adegbola, 40, who moved to the United Kingdom in 2022 and worked as an adult support worker, pleaded guilty to murder after killing Irons inside her flat on Westdale Lane West in Mapperley, Nottinghamshire, on the evening of October 21, 2025.

The court heard that the pair met as colleagues and entered a brief relationship which Irons later ended due to Adegbola’s controlling and obsessive behaviour. Prosecutors said he refused to accept the breakup, became increasingly fixated on her, and deliberately planned the attack. Evidence showed he purchased knives days before the incident and later forced entry into her home.

Following the killing, Adegbola fled the scene and attempted to dispose of evidence. The court was told that his actions demonstrated clear intent and a disturbing lack of remorse.

Delivering the sentence, Judge Nirmal Shant KC described the murder as senseless and rooted in possessiveness, stating that Adegbola’s inability to accept rejection led to the tragic loss of a young woman’s life. The judge also condemned what he called a “final act of humiliation”, revealing that Adegbola sent sexually explicit messages to a shared workplace WhatsApp group after Irons’ death.

“Stephanie was in the prime of her life, and your actions took her future from her,” the judge said.

Adegbola wept in the dock as the life sentence was imposed.

Stephanie Irons was remembered by her family as a bright, kind, and compassionate young woman with dreams of contributing positively to society. Tributes described her as someone who wanted to make the world a happier and kinder place. Her family expressed deep devastation that her life was taken in the place where she should have felt safest.

Nottinghamshire Police praised the swift investigation that led to Adegbola’s arrest and conviction, saying the outcome brought a measure of justice to Irons loved ones.

As a foreign national convicted of a serious violent offence, Adegbola is expected to face deportation after serving his sentence, in accordance with UK immigration laws.

The case has renewed public focus on domestic violence, coercive control, and obsessive behaviour in relationships, with renewed calls for early intervention and stronger protections for victims.