Nine members of a sophisticated criminal network have been handed prison sentences totaling 55 years in the United Kingdom for conducting a series of violent robberies at mobile phone shops throughout London.
The Criminal Operation Uncovered
According to the Metropolitan Police, the organized crime group specifically targeted EE stores between September and November 2024, using threats and intimidation to force employees to open secure stock rooms. The criminals made off with high-value mobile phones and electronic devices worth approximately £240,000 during their crime spree.
The investigation revealed the group was responsible for at least 13 separate offences before Flying Squad detectives successfully identified and arrested the perpetrators. The convicts include four Nigerian nationals: David Akintola, Ayomide Olaribiro, Olabiyi Obasa, and David Okewole.
Police Investigation and Breakthrough
Detective Constable Stephen O'Connell, who led the investigation from the Met's Flying Squad, emphasized the department's commitment to tackling organized phone theft. "This case shows the Met's continued determination to tackle organized phone theft and robbery," O'Connell stated.
Investigators employed advanced forensic and digital techniques to connect suspects to the crime scenes through:
- DNA evidence matching
- Comprehensive CCTV footage analysis
- Mobile phone data examination
- Vehicle records investigation
The breakthrough came on November 19, 2024, when officers moved in to arrest four men in the act of committing another robbery at an EE shop in Kilburn. Subsequent searches of addresses linked to the suspects led to the recovery of stolen devices and additional evidence connecting the group to the series of robberies.
Sentencing and Consequences
All ten men were subsequently charged and appeared at Kingston Crown Court, where sentencing took place on Friday, November 7, 2025. The defendants received varying prison terms based on their level of involvement in the criminal conspiracy.
The most severe sentences were handed to:
- James Adodo - 10 years imprisonment
- David Okewole - 7 years, 6 months imprisonment
- Mushtakim Miah - 8 years, 6 months imprisonment
- Michael Babo - 6 years, 10 months imprisonment
- David Akintola - 6 years, 6 months imprisonment
Other members of the group received sentences ranging from 2 years (suspended) to 5 years, 3 months imprisonment.
Detective Constable O'Connell highlighted the impact of such crimes, noting: "We know how much distress these crimes cause to staff and the impact on businesses. We're dismantling criminal networks at every level, from street-level thieves to organized crime groups."
The successful prosecution demonstrates the Metropolitan Police's ongoing efforts to combat organized retail crime through sophisticated investigative techniques and collaboration with industry partners.
