Three Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms in Kumasi for their roles in a series of vehicle thefts across the Ashanti regional capital.
The convicts — Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze — were arrested on June 20, 2025, during a police operation targeting syndicates involved in stealing parked vehicles.
On July 22, 2025, the three appeared before the Atasemanso Circuit Court. Ekenze pleaded guilty and was handed a 10-year jail term with hard labour (IHL). His accomplices pleaded not guilty, prompting a separate trial.
The following day, July 23, Circuit Court 3 found Friday and Agwazie guilty on two counts each and sentenced them to eight years’ imprisonment, to run concurrently. On the same day, Circuit Court 1imposed an additional 20-year concurrent sentence on all three men for related offences.
In a further ruling on July 24, Circuit Court 2 convicted Ekenze on fresh charges, adding another 10 years IHL, also to run concurrently with his earlier sentence.
All three convicts are currently serving their terms at the Kumasi Central Prison.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command hailed the convictions as a significant milestone in the fight against organized and transnational crime, vowing to intensify efforts to protect lives and property.
It further appealed to the public to support law enforcement by promptly reporting suspicious activity.
