Three Nigerian nationals, Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze, have been sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labor for their involvement in a series of vehicle thefts in Kumasi. The Ashanti Regional Police Command arrested the suspects on June 20, 2025, after they targeted parked vehicles within the metropolis.
The court’s verdict came after a thorough trial, with Ekenze pleading guilty to theft-related charges and receiving a 10-year sentence with hard labor. His accomplices, Friday and Agwazie, pleaded not guilty but were found guilty on two counts each and sentenced to eight years each, to run concurrently.
Additionally, Circuit Court 1 imposed a 20-year concurrent sentence on all three convicts for related offenses. Ekenze faced further conviction at Circuit Court 2 on July 24, 2025, and received another 10-year concurrent sentence.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command hailed the convictions as a significant step in the fight against organized and transnational crime, reaffirming their commitment to protecting lives and property. The police urged the public to continue cooperating with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activities.
The convicts are currently serving their sentences at the Kumasi Central Prison. This successful prosecution demonstrates the police command’s dedication to ensuring that criminal elements face the full rigor of the law.