UK COURT SENTENCES CONGOLESE MAN TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT FOR KILLING NIGERIAN

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By:Tajudeen Aminat

A 28-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years for murdering his Nigerian roommate in what police described as a “violent and unprovoked attack” in Norwich, United Kingdom.

According to a BBC report sighted by the media Online on Tuesday, Benjamin Katabana was convicted of murdering 33-year-old Uchenna Okirie, a former economics student at the University of East Anglia, after allegedly luring him into the communal corridor of their shared accommodation through WhatsApp messages.

The incident occurred at Somerleyton House on Somerleyton Street, Norwich, on November 22.

Norfolk Constabulary said Okirie, popularly known as Uche, was using his phone when Katabana attacked him with a knife.

Katabana initially stabbed him once before repeatedly stabbing him and kicking him in the head while he lay on the floor.

Okirie was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 6am. A post-mortem examination later established that he died from a stab wound to the chest.

CCTV footage captured the two men meeting in the corridor shortly before the attack.

After the killing, Katabana activated the building’s fire alarm before walking to Bethel Street Police Station, where he surrendered to officers.

He reportedly told the police, “I have killed someone, I think.”

The murder weapon was never recovered, while Katabana declined to explain his actions during police interviews, repeatedly responding, “No comment.”

At Norwich Crown Court, Katabana initially pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. However, a jury subsequently convicted him of murder.

Judge Bate sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 20 years.

The court heard that Katabana had five previous convictions for seven offences, including an earlier incident in which he kicked a person in the head while the victim was lying on the floor after an assault.

“You act impulsively and resolve issues through violence,” the judge told him.

Katabana’s defence team argued that his actions were connected to a traumatic upbringing in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

However, the court heard that he had already armed himself with a knife before contacting Okirie and arranging to meet him.

Senior investigating officer Alix Wright of Norfolk Police described the incident as a deliberate attack.

“This was a violent and unprovoked attack,” Wright said.

“Benjamin Katabana deliberately lured Mr Okirie into the corridor through WhatsApp messages where he intended to meet him, having already armed himself with a knife.”

Wright said the police’s thoughts remained with Okirie’s family, adding that she hoped the conviction would provide them with “a measure of justice” for their loss.

Okirie, who was 33 when he died, was a graduate of the University of East Anglia, where he studied economics.

The court heard that the attack occurred inside the building where Okirie lived and that he was caught off guard when Katabana confronted him.

Katabana will therefore remain in prison for at least 20 years before becoming eligible for consideration for release.