Obina Ezeoke, 24, of no fixed address, was charged on Tuesday night with two counts of murder following the fatal shooting of a mother-of-nine and her nephew in north London.

Annie Besala Ekofo, 53, and her nephew Bervil Kalikaka-Ekofo, 21, were ruthlessly gunned down at a flat in East Finchley last Thursday, shortly after 6.30am.

Scotland Yard said Ezeoke, a Nigerian immigrant, would appear in custody at Hendon Magistrates Court in north-west London.

Another 20-year-old man who was arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning has been released on bail until a date in late October.

It has also been established that Mr Kalikaka-Ekofo, a psychology student, died from a gunshot wound to the head. His post-mortem examination was carried out at Northwick Park Hospital Mortuary on Saturday.

His mother Maymie Botaba Chantelle paid tribute to her son, who was studying psychology at the University of West London.

She said: “His character and soul was beyond comparison, and it goes without a doubt that he will be truly and deeply missed by his family.”

A statement released by Mrs Besala Ekofo’s family described the mother of nine as the glue that kept everyone together and a comforting voice in the hardest situations.

Four other people, including a child, were also in the house when the pair were gunned down but were not hurt.

•Adapted from a London Evening Standard report.

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