- Convicts carried out 13 phone-robbery operations in 3 months
For being part of a phone-robbery syndicate terrorising the London metropolis, four Nigerians have been sentenced to a combined jail term of 55 years by a Kingston Crown Court in the United Kingdom.
A statement posted on the UK Metropolitan Police website on Monday listed the convicts as David Akintola, Ayomide Olaribiro, Olabiyi Obasa, and David Okewole.
Others include Nelson Joel, Michael Babo, James Adodo, Robert Hills, Mushtakim Miah, and Laville Bloise.
According to the statement, between September and November 2024, the syndicate carried out 13 phone-robbery operations across different stores and locations in the UK.
The statement read thus, “The group targeted mostly EE stores, using threats of violence to force staff to open secure stock rooms before making off with high-value mobile phones and other devices. In total, they stole items with a total value of £240,000.
“Officers were able to link suspects to the scenes of the crimes through DNA evidence, as well as call data and vehicle records. They observed the group as they prepared for further offences, and on November 19, 2024, officers moved in to arrest four of the men in the act at an EE shop in Kilburn.
“Searches at addresses linked to the suspects led to the recovery of stolen devices and further evidence connecting the group to the robberies.”
Consequently, the 10 suspects arrested in the operation were charged to court, with eight of them pleading guilty to conspiracy to rob on January 30, 2025.
Arising from their guilty plea, they were all sentenced on Friday, November 7 and the statement highlighted their jail terms as follows: “James Adodo of St Martins Road, Dartford, Kent, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. David Akintola of Samuel Street, Woolwich, was sentenced to six years and six months’ imprisonment.
“Michael Babo of Gilbert Close, Woolwich, was sentenced to six years and 10 months’ imprisonment. Robert Hills of Mayfield Road, Gravesend, Kent, was sentenced to five years and three months’ imprisonment.
“Ayomide Olaribiro of Warrior Square, Manor Park, was sentenced to four years and six months’ imprisonment. Nelson Joel of St Martins Road, Dartford, Kent, was sentenced to three years and three months’ imprisonment.
“Olabiyi Obasa of Norfolk Close, Dartford, Kent, was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment. David Okewole of Vale Road, Northfleet, Kent, was sentenced to seven years and six months’ imprisonment.”
The statement noted that two other defendants pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and were sentenced accordingly.
“Laville Bloise of Goldcrest Close, Thamesmead, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years while Mushtakim Miah of Artillery Place, Woolwich, was sentenced to eight years and six months’ imprisonment.”
The latest incident comes amid increasing reports of Nigerians abroad being convicted for criminal offences and one such recent case involves a Nigerian postgraduate student in the United Kingdom (UK), Chiemka Okoronta.
Chiemka’s deportation order is being processed following a 10-year jail sentence for raping a teenage girl.
