Four Nigerians who belonged to a robbery gang that targeted mobile phone stores across London have been sentenced to a total of 55 years in prison by the Kingston Crown Court in the United Kingdom.
The convictions were announced in a statement published on the UK Metropolitan Police website on Monday.
According to the authorities, the syndicate included David Akintola, Ayomide Olaribiro, Olabiyi Obasa, David Okewole, and six others identified as James Adodo, Robert Hills, Nelson Joel, Michael Babo, Mushtakim Miah, and Laville Bloise.
Investigators revealed that between September and November 2024, the group carried out 13 coordinated robberies, mainly at EE mobile stores.
The police statement explained:
The gang used threats of violence to force staff into opening secured stock rooms.
They escaped with high-value smartphones and devices worth about £240,000 in total.
Officers linked them to the crimes using DNA evidence, call records, and vehicle data.
On November 19, 2024, four members were caught in the act during an attempted robbery at an EE store in Kilburn.
Subsequent searches of their homes uncovered stolen items and more evidence tying them to the wider operation.
Read Also;
Ex-FCTA director bags 24-year jail term over ₦318m fraud
Ten suspects were eventually charged. Eight pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob on January 30 and were sentenced on Friday, November 7.
Their jail sentences are as follows:
James Adodo — 10 years
David Akintola — 6 years, 6 months
Michael Babo — 6 years, 10 months
Robert Hills — 5 years, 3 months
Ayomide Olaribiro — 4 years, 6 months
Nelson Joel — 3 years, 3 months
Olabiyi Obasa — 3 years, 6 months
David Okewole — 7 years, 6 months
Two others pleaded guilty to attempted robbery:
Laville Bloise — 2-year sentence, suspended for two years
Mushtakim Miah — 8 years, 6 months
This case adds to a growing number of recent reports involving Nigerians abroad facing prosecution for criminal offences.
