Nigerian-born music manager murdered in the UK

A London court heard that a music manager who was of Nigerian descent was killed by stabbing after celebrating his birthday with a fashionable watch valued up to £300,000.

Emmanuel Odunlami, 32, was allegedly attacked by three thieves on May 1, 2022, in the City of London after leaving the Haz restaurant close to St. Paul's Cathedral.

They claim that Kavindu Hettiarachchi, a security guard, told them that Odunlami was sporting a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch, estimated to be worth between £90,000 and £300,000 if authentic.

Hettiarachchi was a crucial part of the security team that Playhxuse, the event's organizer, engaged for the exclusive ticketed brunch and afterparty with DJ, according to prosecutor Duncan Atkinson KC.

“It was part of his role to protect the safety of those, like Odunlami, who were attending the event. In fact, he did the opposite,” the court was told.

The victim, who was known to his friends by the name Jay, had travelled to the city on the day of his murder in his gray Mercedes hatchback to celebrate his birthday with pals after having bought tickets for a £1,400 table.

According to Dailymail, Hettiarachchi was seen filming the area outside the venue as the event came to an end around 11 p.m. and making a call to Louis Vandrose.

The court was informed that Quincy Ffrench later drove Vandrose and Jordell Menzies in a white Mercedes from northwest London with altered license plates.

The Prosecutor said: “The evidence shows that Vandrose, Menzies and Ffrench were setting off in a car with a disguised registration to carry out a robbery, and their target was at the Haz restaurant where Hettiarachchi was working, and to which by phone he had summoned them.’’