3 Nigerians slapped with 48-year imprisonment for stealing vehicles in Kumasi

Three Nigerians have been sentenced to a 48-year jail term after they were convicted of stealing parked vehicles within the Kumasi metropolis.

The suspects, Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze, were charged with multiple counts of theft offenses.

The three foreign nationals were arrested on 20th June 2025 and prosecuted by the police in the Ashanti region.

On 22nd July 2025, they were arraigned before the Atasemanso Circuit Court. During court proceedings, Russell Ekenze pleaded guilty to the charges and was immediately convicted with a subsequent sentence to 10 years’ imprisonment.

But the other two suspects, Francis and Linus, pleaded not guilty.

Subsequently, on 23rd July 2025, the cases of Francis Friday and Linus Agwazie were heard at Circuit Court 3, where both were found guilty and each sentenced to 8 years on two counts, with the sentences to run concurrently.

On the same day, Circuit Court 1 also heard additional charges against all three suspects, resulting in 20-year sentences each, also on two counts, and to run concurrently.

Russell Ekenze was further convicted at Circuit Court 2 on 24th July 2025 and slapped with an additional 10-year sentence on two counts, to run concurrently with his existing sentence.

All three convicts, Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze, are currently serving their sentences at the Kumasi Central Prison.

The police say it is committed to protecting life and property and working with the judiciary to ensure that criminal elements, particularly those involved in organised and transnational crime, face the full rigours of the law.

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