A 24-year-old Nigerian, Chukwuemeka Ahanonu, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the United Kingdom for the killing of a 56-year-old woman in a violent street attack in Leicester.
According to Leicestershire Police, Ahanonu carried out the attack on June 24, 2025, along Infirmary Road after crashing his car while under the influence of cannabis.
He was later found guilty by a jury at Leicester Crown Court and sentenced on Tuesday.
Investigations revealed that Ahanonu had been driving recklessly across the city centre—running red lights, swerving across lanes, and veering toward pedestrians—before crashing his vehicle.
He then fled the scene and attacked Nila Patel, who had just alighted from a bus and was heading home.
Patel sustained severe injuries, including a fractured skull and brain trauma, and died two days later. Following her death, Ahanonu was re-arrested and charged with murder.
Police also discovered that he had been smoking cannabis at the time of the incident, with drugs worth over £3,000 and multiple mobile phones recovered from his vehicle.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, possession of cannabis with intent to supply, and assaulting an emergency worker after biting a police officer.
Security personnel from the nearby Leicester Royal Infirmary helped restrain him until officers arrived, while medical staff fought to save the victim’s life.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Emma Matts, described the killing as “a horrific, violent and random attack,” noting that the victim had no prior connection with her attacker.
She commended members of the public whose swift intervention helped restrain the suspect and ensured he was brought to justice.
In a related development, two Ireland-based men—Francis Ogbuefi and Steven Silvester—were sentenced to a combined 16 years in prison for their roles in an international money laundering scheme, following investigations by Irish authorities.
Authorities say both cases underscore growing concerns over transnational crimes involving foreign nationals.
