Ben Wazabanga, 24, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years for the murder of his business associate Ayowale Aladejana, 26, outside the victim's home in New Cross, south London. The killing occurred after a financial dispute over a car rental business, with two young children present in Wazabanga's vehicle at the time.
Details of the Murder
On August 2, 2025, Wazabanga, armed with a hunting knife, travelled from Bedford to south London with his partner Ronique Belfon, 23, and two small children in the car. The group sought out Aladejana to confront him over money invested in the A2M2 car rental business, which had failed and accumulated debts. The murder was partially captured on a ring doorbell camera, showing Wazabanga stabbing Aladejana in the chest during a daytime confrontation. After the stabbing, Wazabanga fled briefly, returned to retrieve a dropped mobile phone, and left in the car driven by Belfon.
Court Proceedings and Sentence
Wazabanga was found guilty of murder by a jury in June 2026 and sentenced at the Old Bailey on July 14, 2026. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article and breaching a suspended sentence, receiving concurrent sentences of 18 months and 12 months respectively. Belfon was acquitted of murder after testifying she was unaware of the knife or Wazabanga's violent intentions. Prosecutor James Brown KC told the court that Wazabanga had a 'real axe to grind against Mr Aladejana' and that text messages showed escalating efforts to recover their investments.
Victim Impact Statements
Aladejana's mother, Lola Paul, described her son as a 'kind soul' who 'always wanted to help people,' stating, 'A mother should never have to bury their child.' His partner, Katelyn Edwards, said, 'The trauma of what happened has deeply affected my mental health. My partner was taken from us in the most violent way.'
Background of the Offender
Wazabanga had a history of knife-related offences, with 12 previous convictions including possession of knives and threatening others with a blade. He admitted to carrying a knife 'more often than not' since 2018. In a letter to the judge, he expressed remorse, saying, 'I understand that a life has been lost and that this situation has caused pain to many people... I do not take that lightly,' and claimed to want to become a better man.
Judge's Remarks
Judge Martyn Levett condemned the routine carrying of knives, stating, 'The terrifying reality in this case is that you admitted to routinely carrying a knife. Once more the carrying of a knife and the use of it is another grim illustration of how knife crime is blighting the streets of the UK.'
