British drill artist CB was found guilty of murder at London’s Old Bailey on Thursday following an eight-year investigation after he and a 24-year-old man were stabbed to death in a convenience store ambush linked to gang violence.
Lekan Akinsoji, 27, also known as “Cracky Blacks”, was found guilty along with Sundjata Keita, also 27, of the 2017 murder of Ahmed Deen-Jah at Customs House, east London.
Prosecutors said the attack was part of a cycle of revenge between rival gangs.
Deanja was chased and stabbed by a masked man as he walked into a corner shop to buy a lighter. Surveillance video showed him re-entering the store seconds later with a chest wound and bleeding. He died on the spot.
“Eight years after Ahmed was brutally murdered, today his family finally got the justice they deserved,” Detective Superintendent Kelly Allen said. “For years, Akinsoji and Keita believed they murdered Ahmed, yet they got away with it despite never having met or knowing the man.”
Two men were arrested within days of the April 2, 2017, murder but were released due to a lack of evidence and the case languished for years.
A 2023 review of the case reopened the investigation, leading to breakthroughs through phone data analysis and forensic testing.
Footage of British drill rapper CB and his associate SK being arrested for the murder of Ahmed Deen Jah. pic.twitter.com/nyETI64s3V
— VE Media (@ve_ldn) October 10, 2025
Keita’s mobile phone was found to be part of the getaway vehicle used in the murder, which was later found burnt out in Epping Forest.
Investigators also found a knife sheath with Keita’s DNA near the crime scene. DNA matching Akinsoji was recovered from the victim’s hand.
Akinsoji burst onto the UK drill scene in 2017 with debut single ‘Take That Risk’, gaining notoriety for his raw lyrics and street-level storytelling.
Practice music has long been criticized by authorities and the public for its links to street crime and gang culture.
Prosecutors argued the killing was a targeted act of gang rivalry. Both defendants were driving a stolen car through the neighborhood and allegedly encountered Dean Jaa, who had no known ties to either group, while searching for a rival crew member.
Ahmed’s father expressed gratitude after the verdict, saying he was “relieved” and praised detectives for their persistence.
The pair are scheduled to return to court for sentencing on October 24 and face life in prison.
