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The Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced the successful prosecution and conviction of three Nigerian nationals arrested in June this year for their involvement in a series of vehicle thefts across Kumasi.
According to a police statement signed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Godwin Ahianyo, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Command, the convicts — identified as Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze — were apprehended on June 20, 2025, for engaging in theft activities targeting parked vehicles within the Kumasi Metropolis.
On July 22, 2025, the suspects appeared before the Atasemanso Circuit Court. During the proceedings, Russell Ekenze pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour (IHL). His accomplices, Francis Friday and Linus Agwazie, pleaded not guilty at the time.
However, the following day, July 23, 2025, both Friday and Agwazie were convicted at Circuit Court 3 after being found guilty. Each was handed an 8-year sentence with hard labour on two counts, to run concurrently.
Additional charges were later heard at Circuit Court 1 on the same day, leading to stiffer penalties. All three suspects were convicted and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour each, also on two counts, to run concurrently.
Ekenze faced yet another trial on July 24, 2025, at Circuit Court 2, where he was convicted on further charges and sentenced to an additional 10 years with hard labour on two counts, to be served concurrently with his existing sentence.
The police confirmed that all three convicts are currently serving their terms at the Kumasi Central Prison.
DSP Ahianyo emphasized that the convictions highlight the Ashanti Regional Police Command’s commitment to safeguarding life and property, while ensuring that organized and transnational criminal elements face the full rigours of the law.
“The successful prosecution underscores our unwavering commitment to working with the judiciary to protect citizens and ensure that criminals, particularly those engaged in organized crime, are held accountable,” the statement read.
The police further appealed to the public to cooperate with law enforcement by reporting suspicious activities and providing timely information to aid crime prevention and enhance public safety.
