Nana Oppong: Drug dealer tried four times for murder found guilty of music manager fatal shooting
Nana Oppong was one of the UK’s most wanted fugitives when he was caught hiding in the back of a lorry on his way into Morocco and extradited back to face trial for organising the execution of a man outside a party.
It wasn’t the first time the 43-year-old, a high-level drug dealer known as Enz, had been accused of killing someone – he had already been cleared of three separate murders.
But Oppong is today facing a life sentence after being found guilty at London’s Woolwich Crown Court of murdering 50-year-old Robert Powell.
Mr Powell, who was the manager of rapper Dutchavelli – who had a top ten hit with Stormzy – was shot eight times outside Hills House, in Water Lane, Roydon, Essex, as he left a party with his two adult sons in the early hours of 13 April 2020.
He suffered 15 bullet wounds – some caused by the same bullet fired from a 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol passing in and out – including one that knocked the gold grill from his mouth.
Prosecutors said Oppong organised the “execution”, leading a team including drivers and spotters, over a “grievance” with Mr Powell.
Robert Powell. Pic: Essex Police
The victim was found by police being put into the back seat of a Ford Mondeo by bystanders and he died the next day in hospital, while two women were also shot and survived.
Prosecutor Justin Rouse KC told the jury that Oppong “slipped out of the country” after the murder and in messages sent from abroad, said: “Bro don’t think I’m coming back” and “I ain’t doing no time bro.”
While on the run, Oppong was named by the National Crime Agency as one of the UK’s most wanted fugitives, before he was caught with a Maltese passport hiding in the back of a lorry as he entered Morocco and was extradited back to the UK to face trial.
“He was the instigator, protagonist, and principal organiser of this killing,” said Mr Rouse.
The court heard he arrived at the scene with a loaded firearm in a Ford Kuga with cloned number plates to hide its identity before a gunman got out and Mr Powell was “executed”.
“The gunman may have been Nana Oppong or someone else from the Kuga,” said Mr Rouse.
“It doesn’t matter who pulled the trigger – this was what lawyers call a joint enterprise, they were in it together and are equally responsible.”
Oppong, of West Road, Stratford, east London, stood trial alongside Israar Shah, 39, of Kelvedon Hatch, Essex, who also left the country after the murder and was found in Spain before being extradited.
Both were found guilty of murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, while Oppong was also convicted of causing grievous bodily harm and possession of a prohibited weapon.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Shah accepted he was at the scene in his Toyota Prius with Adeyinka, but said he did not play any part in the murder, while Oppong denied he was there.
The court heard others were involved in the shooting, including Temitope Adeyinka, known as Limo, who is still on the run.
Oppong was cleared of murdering Eugene Brown, 27, and 36-year-old Patrick Ford, who were shot dead outside a birthday party at the Sugar Lounge nightclub in Forest Gate, east London, in 2010, after two Old Bailey juries failed to reach verdicts.
But he was jailed for two years after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice after CCTV footage proved he was standing beside the shooter, who he had denied knowing.
In 2015, Oppong was acquitted of knifing 25-year-old Ashley Latty to death in a vicious attack outside a private party in Dagenham, east London. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment after admitting to causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
Read more from Sky News:
Ten Reform councillors quit in protest
Liz Truss sends cease and desist letter to Starmer
As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports9 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway