The Atasemanso circuit court in Ghana has sentenced three Nigerians, Linus Agwazie, Francis Friday, and Russell Ekene, to a combined jail term of 96 years for their involvement in car theft within the Kumasi Metropolis.
This development was confirmed in a statement signed by Godwin Ahinayo, the head of the public affairs unit of the Ashanti regional police.
According to the statement, the trio was apprehended on June 20, 2025, after suspicion that they were involved in targeting and stealing parked vehicles.
The statement reads, “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.
“Subsequently, on July 23, 2025, the cases of Francis Friday and Linus Agwazie were heard at Circuit Court 3, where both were found guilty and each was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment 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 IHL sentences each, also on two counts, and to run concurrently.
“Finally, on July 24, 2025, Russell Ekenze was further convicted at Circuit Court 2, receiving an additional 10-year IHL 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.”
Note, this development comes amid protests by Ghanians concerning the involvement of Nigerians in various criminal activities within the country.
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