By our Reporter
A Kingston Crown Court in the United Kingdom has sentenced four Nigerians and six other members of a violent phone-robbery syndicate to a combined 55 years in prison for a series of coordinated attacks on mobile phone stores across London.
According to a statement released by the UK Metropolitan Police, the group identified as David Akintola, Ayomide Olaribiro, Olabiyi Obasa, David Okewole, James Adodo, Robert Hills, Nelson Joel, Michael Babo, Mushtakim Miah, and Laville Bloise carried out 13 robberies between September and November 2024.
The syndicate primarily targeted EE stores, using threats of violence to force staff to unlock secure stock rooms before escaping with high-value smartphones and electronic devices worth £240,000.
Detectives linked the suspects to the crimes through DNA evidence, call records, and vehicle data. Officers monitored the group as they planned additional attacks and arrested four members in the act during an attempted robbery at an EE shop in Kilburn on November 19, 2024. Follow-up searches at various addresses led to the recovery of stolen devices and further incriminating material.
All ten suspects were charged, and eight pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob on January 30. They were sentenced on Friday, November 7, 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 additional defendants who pleaded guilty to attempted robbery received the following sentences:
• Laville Bloise — 2 years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years
• Mushtakim Miah — 8 years, 6 months
The Metropolitan Police noted that the sentencing brings closure to a months-long investigation into the group’s organised, high-impact crime spree across the London area.
