Four Nigerians Jailed in UK for £240,000 London Phone Robbery

Four Nigerians have been sentenced to various jail terms in the United Kingdom for their involvement in a violent phone robbery syndicate that raided several mobile phone stores across London.

The convicts, David Akintola, Ayomide Olaribiro, Olabiyi Obasa, and David Okewole, were part of a ten-man gang that carried out a series of coordinated robberies targeting EE stores and other outlets across the city between September and November 2024.

According to a statement released by the Metropolitan Police on Monday, the gang stole mobile phones and electronic devices valued at over £240,000. The statement said the criminals used threats of violence to force staff to open secure stock rooms before escaping with the stolen items.

The group’s operations came to an end on November 19, 2024, when detectives moved in to arrest four members in the act during a raid at an EE store in Kilburn. Subsequent searches of their homes led to the recovery of stolen devices and other incriminating evidence linking them to previous robberies.

Investigators said forensic and digital evidence, including DNA samples, call data, and vehicle records, were key to identifying the suspects and tying them to the crime scenes.

The suspects were arraigned at the Kingston Crown Court, where eight of them pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob on January 30, 2025. They were sentenced on Friday, November 7, 2025, after several months of trial.

Below are the sentences as detailed by the Metropolitan Police:

James Adodo, Dartford, Kent – 10 years’ imprisonment
David Akintola, Woolwich – 6 years and 6 months
Michael Babo, Woolwich – 6 years and 10 months
Robert Hills, Gravesend, Kent – 5 years and 3 months
Ayomide Olaribiro, Manor Park – 4 years and 6 months
Nelson Joel, Dartford, Kent – 3 years and 3 months
Olabiyi Obasa, Dartford, Kent – 3 years and 6 months
David Okewole, Northfleet, Kent – 7 years and 6 months
Mushtakim Miah, Woolwich – 8 years and 6 months
Laville Bloise, Thamesmead – 2 years, suspended for 2 years

The police described the case as a major breakthrough against organised retail crime in the UK.

“These offenders caused fear and financial loss to businesses and communities across London. Their convictions send a strong message that organised criminal activity will not be tolerated,” the statement added.