Ghana Court Sentences Three Nigerians to 96 Years for Car Theft in Kumasi
- Three Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to a combined 96 years in prison by a Ghanaian court for their role in a car theft syndicate operating in Kumasi
- The convictions come amid rising public concern over the involvement of Nigerians in criminal activities across Ghana
- Authorities say the trio were apprehended following targeted investigations and have since begun serving their sentences at Kumasi Central Prison
Three Nigerian nationals have been handed a combined prison sentence of 96 years by the Atasemanso Circuit Court in Ghana for their involvement in a series of car thefts within the Kumasi Metropolis.
The convicts, Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze, were found guilty across multiple court sittings in July 2025.
Source: Getty Images
Car theft convictions in Kumasi metropolis
According to a statement signed by Godwin Ahianyo, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Ashanti Regional Police, and obtained by PUNCH Metro on Tuesday, the trio were arrested on 20 June following suspicions of targeting and stealing parked vehicles in Kumasi.
The suspects were first arraigned before the Atasemanso Circuit Court on 22 July. During the proceedings, only Russell Ekenze pleaded guilty and was immediately sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour. His co-accused, Francis Friday and Linus Agwazie, denied the charges.
Ahianyo stated, “On July 22, 2025, the suspects Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze were arraigned before the Atasemanso Circuit Court.
During proceedings, Russell Ekenze pleaded guilty to the charges and was immediately convicted and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment in hard labour. The other two suspects, Francis Friday and Linus Agwazie, pleaded not guilty.”
On 23 July, Circuit Court 3 found Friday and Agwazie guilty on two counts each and sentenced them to eight years’ imprisonment, with the sentences to run concurrently.
Additional sentences and prison terms
Further charges were heard on the same day at Circuit Court 1, where all three suspects were convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment in hard labour on two counts each. These sentences were also ordered to run concurrently.
Ekenze faced an additional conviction on 24 July at Circuit Court 2, receiving another 10-year sentence, also to run concurrently with his previous term.
“All three convicts, Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze, are currently serving their sentences at the Kumasi Central Prison,” the statement concluded.
Nigerian nationals and crime allegations in Ghana
The sentencing comes amid growing public concern in Ghana over the involvement of Nigerian nationals in criminal activities. Recent protests have highlighted tensions surrounding foreign involvement in crime.
In May, a Tarkwa Circuit Court sentenced a 32-year-old Nigerian woman, Patience Gold, to 20 years in prison for trafficking four young women—one of whom was living with HIV—for forced prostitution.
Similarly, in July, the Ghana Immigration Service arrested 50 Nigerians in a coordinated operation at McCarthy Hills, Accra, for alleged cyberfraud and human trafficking. The landlord of the property was also apprehended.
While Ghanaian authorities continue to clamp down on foreign criminal networks, the repeated involvement of Nigerians in such cases has raised concerns about the country’s international image.
Source: Twitter
Lagos state sentences bakery workers for stealing
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Lagos state government led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, through the Magistrate Courts, has sentenced two bakery workers to serve two weeks of community service after they were accused of stealing five loaves of bread from their employer.
This was made known in a statement released on the state government’s website on Monday, September 8.
According to the state, the Ministry of Justice, through its restorative justice centre in collaboration with the non-custodial/community service centre, secured the non-custodial sentence in place of prosecution.
Source: Legit.ng
