Nigerian Man Receives Life Sentence in the UK for Murdering Ex-Girlfriend

A Nigerian individual, Adedapo Adegbola, has been handed a life sentence by authorities in the United Kingdom for the murder of his former girlfriend, Stephanie Irons. The tragic incident occurred when Adegbola, 40, stabbed the 23-year-old woman in the neck at her residence in Mapperley, Nottinghamshire, on the evening of October 21, 2025.

Adegbola relocated to the UK in 2022 and had developed an obsession with Irons before the fatal attack. It was reported that he planned to kill her after she ended their brief relationship characterized by controlling behavior.

During the hearings at Nottingham Crown Court, it was revealed that Adegbola would be required to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to the murder last month.

In a statement to the court, Irons's mother expressed her profound grief, stating, "I have no words to express how broken I am to have lost her in such a horrific way." Tears were shed by Adegbola as the victim’s mother described her daughter as "compassionate and caring," highlighting her ability to uplift others with her presence.

Judge Nirmal Shant KC addressed Adegbola, stating, "You had been in a brief relationship with Stephanie Irons after you met as work colleagues. Your controlling behavior compelled her to end the relationship, and it is clear you were not willing to accept this." The judge emphasized the premeditated nature of the crime, noting that Adegbola had taken two knives with him to Irons's home after work.

Adegbola arrived at Irons’s home later than her and managed to enter her house. He left almost two hours later. Following the murder, he allegedly sent sexually explicit screenshots from her phone to colleagues. Alarmed by Irons's absence, two of her colleagues visited her home and called the police after failing to get a response.

Police gained access to the apartment through a rear window, where they found Irons lying on the floor, covered in blood. Adegbola was said to have been obsessed to the point of refusing to accept the end of their relationship, leading to the fatal actions he took.

On October 22, Adegbola turned himself in to the police after fleeing to Hull. He later pled guilty to the murder in January. The investigating officer, Det Insp Stuart Barson, praised Irons's family's resolve throughout the legal proceedings, which they described as a painful journey. A statement from the family lamented the loss of their daughter, remembering her as the brightest light in their lives whose absence has left an irreplaceable void.