By Grâçia Ada Obi
A man who stabbed his business associate to death with a hunting knife after travelling more than 50 miles with two small children in a car has been jailed.
Ben Wazabanga, 24, killed a Nigerian man Ayowale Aladejana outside his home in Monson Road, New Cross, south London, after a falling out over money invested into a car rental business.
Wazabanga was found guilty by a jury of murder in June and today July 14, 2026 was sentenced at the Old Bailey to life with a minimum term of 24 years. Southwark Crown Court previously heard Mr Aladejana, 26, had set up the scheme, with Wazabanga joining as an investor.
But in the weeks before his death, Wazabanga and his partner Ronique Belfon, another investor, had struggled to get in touch with Mr Aladejana as the business failed and ran up debts.
On August 2 2025, Wazabanga armed himself with a hunting knife as he and Ms Belfon travelled from Bedford to South London to find their business associate.
The court heard the couple made the journey with two small children in the car, with the youngsters being present in the vehicle as the murder unfolded a short distance away.
He had pleaded guilty to having an article with a blade or a point at a hearing in October 2025 and later admitted breaching a suspended sentence. He was given concurrent sentences of 18 months and 12 months respectively for both.
Wazabanga, who appeared at court by video-link from prison, listened to the sentencing quietly either sitting up or leaning with his chin resting on his hands on a table.
Ms Belfon, 23, was cleared of murder after she told the trial she had no idea her partner was armed with a knife or intent on violence.
Prosecutor James Brown KC told the trial Wazabanga stabbed Mr Aladejana in the chest, during a daytime confrontation which was partially captured on a ring doorbell camera.
He fled after the stabbing before briefly returning to retrieve the mobile phone he had dropped, then leaving in the car Ms Belfon was driving.
Mr Brown told jurors Wazabanga had a “real axe to grind against Mr Aladejana”, having put up money for vehicle repairs for the A2M2 car rental business.
Messages aired at trial show the escalating efforts by Wazabanga and Ms Belfon to recoup their losses and get hold of Mr Aladejana.
Wazabanga claimed to have acted in self-defence when stabbing Mr Aladejana, but the court also heard evidence that he habitually carried a knife and had done so for around seven years.
Wazabanga and Belfon were arrested by police around Waterloo Bridge, central London, in the evening after the stabbing.
The defendant has a number of previous convictions for 12 offences, including convictions which relate to possession of knives, one of which involved him threatening others with it, Benjamin Holt, prosecuting, said on Tuesday.
Mr Holt said it was the defendant’s evidence “that he carried a knife ‘more often than not’ and had done so since 2018”. A statement from Mr Aladejana’s mother, Lola Paul, was read to the court, in which she described her son as a “kind soul” who “always wanted to help people”.
She said: “Ayowale was a popular young man, he had lots of friends and was well liked. A mother should never have to bury their child.”
Katelyn Edwards, Mr Aladejana’s partner, said: “The trauma of what happened has deeply affected my mental health. My partner was taken from us in the most violent way.”
Jenni Dempster KC, representing Wazabanga, said in his letter to the judge, he “makes it clear that he’s had time to reflect”. She said: “He was just 23 at the time of the incident.”
Ms Dempster read parts of a letter from Wazabanga, in which he said: “I understand that a life has been lost and that this situation has caused pain to many people, especially the family of the deceased, I do not take that lightly.”
He also said that since being in custody he has tried to use his time “in a way that will help me grow”. He added he “wants to become a better man”.
Judge Martyn Levett said: “The terrifying reality in this case is that you admitted to routinely carrying a knife.” He added: “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.”
