Francis Friday and Linus Agwazie
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has announced the successful conviction of three Nigerian nationals for a string of vehicle theft offences within the Kumasi Metropolis.
The suspects — identified as Francis Friday, Linus Agwazie, and Russell Ekenze — were arrested on June 20, 2025, after targeting parked vehicles in various parts of the city.
According to police, the three were arraigned before different Circuit Courts in July. On July 22, Russell Ekenze pleaded guilty at the Atasemanso Circuit Court and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour. His accomplices, Francis Friday and Linus Agwazie, initially pleaded not guilty but were later convicted.
On July 23, both Friday and Agwazie were sentenced by Circuit Court 3 to 8 years each, to run concurrently. The same day, Circuit Court 1 also imposed additional convictions on all three suspects, handing down 20-year concurrent sentences each.
Ekenze’s legal troubles continued when, on July 24, Circuit Court 2 further convicted him on additional counts, adding another 10-year term, also to run concurrently.
All three convicts are currently serving their sentences at the Kumasi Central Prison.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command described the prosecution as a demonstration of its commitment to safeguarding lives and property. Officials also highlighted their resolve to work with the judiciary to ensure that individuals engaged in organized and transnational crimes face the full weight of the law.
Police further appealed to the public to support law enforcement efforts by reporting suspicious activities and sharing timely information to help in crime prevention and public safety.
