Nigerian Social Worker Receives Life Sentence for Fatal Stabbing of Ex-Girlfriend in UK
A Nigerian man has been handed a life sentence in the United Kingdom for the murder of a woman he worked with, following the end of what was described as a brief but controlling relationship. Adedapo Adegbola, 40, fatally stabbed Stephanie Irons, 23, in her home in Mapperley, Nottinghamshire, on the evening of October 21, 2025.
Court Details Reveal Obsessive Behavior and Premeditated Attack
Nottingham Crown Court heard that Adegbola, who relocated to the UK in 2022, had become obsessed with Irons and meticulously planned her killing. On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 25 years, after he pleaded guilty to murder in January. Judge Nirmal Shant KC emphasized that Adegbola's controlling behavior led Irons to end the relationship, which he refused to accept.
The prosecution detailed how Adegbola purchased two knives on October 15, 2025, with the intent to kill Irons. Days later, after finishing work on October 21, he traveled by taxi to her home in Westdale Lane West, arriving approximately 20 minutes after her. He entered the property and, after an hour and 50 minutes, inflicted multiple cuts and a fatal blow to the front of her neck.
Heartbreaking Victim Impact and Family's Anguish
During the sentencing, Irons's mother delivered a poignant statement, expressing her profound grief. "I have no words to say how broken I am to have lost her in such a horrific way," she said, describing her daughter as "compassionate and caring" and someone who "lit up the room and could make even the saddest person smile." She added that Irons aimed to create a happier and kinder world.
Adegbola sobbed as the mother spoke, but the judge condemned his actions, stating, "What you did on that day was to take the life of a young girl who was compassionate and accomplished and whose only fault was to love you at one time."
Investigation and Aftermath of the Crime
The court heard that after the attack, Adegbola sat on the sofa as Irons lay dead or dying, then left with her phone and keys, locking her inside. He disposed of his shirt, trousers, and the murder weapon while fleeing. Concerned colleagues, who had noticed his troubling behavior towards Irons, visited her home when she did not respond to messages. Finding no answer, they alerted the police, who eventually entered through a rear window to discover her body surrounded by blood.
Prosecutor Peter Joyce KC revealed that Adegbola had sent sexually explicit messages from Irons's phone to colleagues, likely after killing her. Adegbola handed himself into police on October 22, 2025, after fleeing to Hull.
Family's Strength and Call for Justice
Detective Inspector Stuart Barson, the senior investigating officer, praised Irons's family for their "incredible strength and bravery" throughout the investigation. In a statement read on behalf of the family, he said, "We have lost our beautiful daughter and shining light. No-one will ever take away the pain caused by this senseless act. She was the kindest, sweetest person anyone could meet, and our lives will never be the same." The family acknowledged that while justice has been served, time will not heal their loss.
At the request of Irons's mother, a former police officer, several officers attended the court session so she could thank them for their efforts in the case.
