A Nigerian man said to be the son of an African king was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Tuesday after a jury convicted him of killing his ex-wife’s boyfriend at their Richmond home in 2018.
A Fort Bend County jury convicted Godson Olayiwola Akran on Monday after four days of hearing testimony in the fatal stabbing of Taofeek Anifata.
The jury began hearing evidence in the punishment phase of the trial on Monday afternoon and returned their verdict on Tuesday afternoon.
Akran, who was 38 at the time of the killing on Aug. 16, 2018, was arrested by Fort Bend County sheriff’s deputies shortly after fatally stabbing his ex-wife’s new boyfriend in front of her children at her home in rural Fort Bend County.
Anifata is also from Nigeria.
According to the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, around 4:45 a.m. that Thursday, Akran knocked on the door of his ex-wife’s home in the 3700 block of Daintree Park Court, off Tamarron Parkway.
After she answered the door, Akran got into an argument with her.
Akran left shortly afterward and his ex-wife called 911. Akran returned to the home and got into a fight with Anifata, who was also at the house.
That’s when Akran stabbed Anifata inside the with a kitchen knife, according to testimony.
A Fort Bend County grand jury returned a first-degree felony indictment against Akran in November 2018. A first-degree felony is punishable by up to life in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The indictment included the lesser offense of stabbing Anifata with a knife to cause serious bodily injury and knowing the injury could kill Anifata.
Akran pleaded not guilty to Anifata’s death and did not testify at his trial.
During the trial, Akran’s sister testified their father is an African king.
Akran’s sister testified that Anifata disrespected their mother in their tribal language and that was why Akran killed him.
According to prosecutors, Akran was convicted in August 2005 in New York of access device fraud, a felony.
Access device fraud involves the illegal possession or use of credit or debit cards, including any scheme involving electronic codes or account numbers or any device used to obtain such codes or account numbers.
Akran will be eligible for parole after 30 years.
The trial took place in Judge Steve Rogers’ 268th District Court.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.