Suspect arrested for stabbing Ireland-based Nigerian footballer to death
A sixth member of the suspected gang of thugs, John Eghomwanre, 23, who was fingered in the death of a 34-year-old Nigerian man, Quham Babatunde, on South Anne Street, Dublin, Ireland, on February 15, 2025, has been arrested by the Ireland National Police Force.
PUNCH Metro learnt from a report by Irish Mirror, a news medium outlet, that the suspect was arrested and charged in court on Thursday and Friday after five other suspects had been detained for the murder.
According to Gript, an Italian online media outlet, in a report by The PUNCH on February 26, 2025, the deceased was a promising footballer who played for Reggiana’s youth team in Italy.
Babatunde had attended an Afroswing gig at a nightclub in Dublin on the night of the attack before he was allegedly stabbed in the heart by the suspects.
Emergency services responded to the scene early Saturday morning, where Babatunde received treatment before being rushed to St. James’ Hospital.
Despite efforts by the hospital staff to save him, he reportedly succumbed to multiple stab wounds, including one to the heart.
The Irish Mirror reported that the police were holding Eghomwanre pending his court appearance before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court.
During the proceedings, Garda Grainne Collier reportedly provided evidence of Eghomwanre’s arrest, charge, and caution.
The suspect is said to be facing multiple charges, including assault causing harm to Babatunde at Anne Street South, assault on his friend, Adetola Adetuilehin, at Duke Lane, and violent disorder.
Judge Finan granted him legal aid, remanded him in custody and ordered that he reappear before Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday, March 11, 2025 (today).
The report stated that the prosecution must obtain directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions, while the defence is required to give 48 hours’ notice if they intend to apply for bail.
Babatunde, a resident of the International Protection Accommodation Service Centre in Ballyogan, South Dublin, reportedly had a controversial past.
He was also reportedly accused of illegal immigration, leading to his detention by the Italian immigration officers at the time.
He was arrested by Italian authorities over an allegation of rape and was scheduled for deportation in 2019.
A Nigerian-born music manager, Emmanuel Odunlami, was also killed under similar circumstances in London after being stabbed to death over a fake luxury watch worth £300,000 in 2023.
According to reports, three robbers targeted Odunlami’s Patek Philippe Nautilus, believing it to be genuine, before stealing it.
