The Rise and Fall of the Notorious “King of the Hill” Gangster
A tale of terror and mystery surrounds the life and death of Stephen Akinyemi, also known as “Aki,” who once ruled the streets of Manchester with fear before meeting his end at the hands of a businessman. Twelve years have passed since an open verdict was declared on his death, leaving many questions unanswered.
“Aki” was a trusted lieutenant in Manchester’s infamous “Cheetham Hillbillies” gang, renowned for his silver Porsche adorned with the personalized plate “AKI.” His presence was a common sight in the city’s bars and nightclubs, as reported by the MEN.
The “Cheetham Hill Gang,” as they were known, emerged in the 1980s, initially engaging in armed robberies before venturing into drug dealing. Akinyemi found himself under police suspicion for the murder of 34-year-old Chinada Iheagwara, who was fatally shot in a Crumpsall house in February 2002. Iheagwara had a criminal history, having served half of a 20-year sentence for a machete attack on a currency depot security guard in 1989.
Akinyemi, regarded as an “elder statesman” among Manchester’s criminal circles, managed to elude prosecution for other alleged offenses. One such incident involved the alleged rape of a woman in January 2010, who claimed her drink had been spiked during a night out in Stockport. Akinyemi was accused of driving her to his apartment, where he raped her at knifepoint, issuing a chilling warning.
His life took a dramatic turn the following month when he appeared at the home of millionaire businessman Arran Coghlan, who lived in a converted chapel mansion in Alderley Edge, Cheshire. Wearing body armor and a stab-proof vest, Akinyemi’s visit ended tragically, with Coghlan eventually charged with murder after the discovery of Akinyemi’s lifeless body, bearing gunshot and stab wounds, on February 9, 2010.
Tributes were paid to “Aki” on a Facebook page dedicated to his memory, with sentiments like “True Bad Man. RIP bro. Never forgotten” and “RIP King of the Hill.” However, Coghlan maintained that he acted in self-defense during a confrontation where Akinyemi aimed a gun at him, leading to the dropping of charges in July that year.
The first inquest in February delivered an open verdict, but a second inquest in 2017 issued a narrative verdict, concluding that Mr. Coghlan had acted reasonably to defend himself. It was suggested that Coghlan had been attempting to mediate a dispute between Akinyemi and another man, Philip Atkinson, over the use of the nickname “Aki.”
Akinyemi was not just a figure of fear; he also ran his own security firm and was proficient in various martial arts. Two years prior to his death, Coghlan had been stabbed in the neck and shoulder during New Year’s Eve celebrations at Cobden’s bar in Stockport, where Akinyemi was overseeing security.
At the 2017 inquest, John Akinyemi, his brother, revealed that he had never delved into the details of his brother’s life and knew nothing about the incident. He denied claims that Akinyemi was a violent man, stating he never witnessed his brother’s temper exceed a level six on a scale of one to ten.
However, those who were acquainted with Akinyemi painted a different picture. They insisted he was far from being a hero, describing him as dangerous, a bully who instilled fear in people, preventing anyone from speaking out against him. With Akinyemi’s demise, Cheetham Hill was deemed a safer place.