Institutional racism claim amid appeal over teen's 'revenge plot' conviction

THERE are claims that 'institutional racism' may have played a part in the conviction of a teenager jailed for plotting 'revenge' attacks after a murder in north Manchester.

- CHRIS SLATER

Ademola Adedeji, now 21 but who was 17 at the time had an offer to study law at university and had addressed MPs at the Houses of Parliament before being prosecuted for his role in the conspiracy following the death of his friend John Soyoye, a court has heard.

Mr Soyoye an aspiring rapper also known as MD or Morsley, was regarded as the 'leader' of the Moston-based M40 gang. He was murdered by members of their deadly rivals, the Rochdale and Oldham based Representing the Danger (RTD).

After the tragedy, prosecutors and police said members of the M40 gang stocked up on weapons including machetes and a crossbow, and carried out at least three brutal attacks to avenge the death.

Following a lengthy trial, in May 2022 four men were convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and six others, including Adedeji, were convicted of conspiracy to commit assault causing grevious bodily harm.

Passing sentence, the judge said that each defendant had a 'principal part' within the criminal conspiracy 'to kill others or cause GBH where the victims suffered very serious machete wounds. Adedeji is one of seven of the defendants who have taken the fight against their convictions to the Court of Appeal.

Three senior judges have now heard arguments that Harry Oni, Brooklyn Jitoboh, Jeffrey Ojo - who were convicted of the murder conspiracy and that Adedeji, Omolade Okoya, Raymond Savi and Martin Thomas convicted for conspiracy to commit GBH - should be granted leave to appeal their convictions.

In the days following Mr Soyoye's murder, the prosecution at the trial at Preston Crown Court said that the gang set up a chat on instant messaging service Telegram where seven of the 10 defendants spoke of acquiring information on targets to attack in revenge. Adedeji aka 'Stormzy, Savi aka 'RS, Okoya aka '01' and Okunola aka 'Y' or 'Y Hushpuppi' identified the targets and sought out information about their movements.