The collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force Zone 2 Command and the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, has resulted in the arrest of a 50-year-old accountant, Olusola Ajayi Joshua, nearly a year after he allegedly left the country while under investigation for a high-profile burglary case.
Joshua was apprehended following investigations into a petition dated July 11, 2025, submitted to the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, by a woman who reported a burglary at her residence on Sesayon Street in the Government Reserved Area, GRA, Ikeja.
The petitioner alleged that unknown persons broke into the property and made away with household items and other valuables estimated at over N150 million.
She reportedly suspected Joshua, who had worked as an accountant in her late father’s company for more than 17 years, along with six other individuals, of having links to the incident.
According to the complainant, she had entrusted Joshua with a spare key to the apartment in 2022 to enable him gain access to the property when necessary, particularly during the rainy season, to assist in clearing water caused by roof leakages.
She stated that upon visiting the apartment in July 2025, she discovered that it had been broken into and several valuable items were missing.
Following the complaint, detectives attached to the Zonal Servicom Team, formerly known as the Zonal Strike Force Team, launched an investigation that led to the arrest of six suspects who allegedly had access to the residence.
The six suspects were later arraigned in court after investigations were concluded.
Police, however, said further inquiries revealed that Joshua, who also had access to the property, had travelled to Canada in July 2025 shortly after the alleged burglary and was subsequently declared wanted.
Speaking while parading the suspect, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Olohundare Jimoh, said repeated efforts to secure Joshua’s cooperation during the investigation were unsuccessful.
According to Jimoh, the command subsequently sought the assistance of INTERPOL on July 16, 2025, leading to the suspect’s international travel documents being placed on a watchlist.
The police chief disclosed that INTERPOL operatives in Lagos arrested Joshua at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at about 9:30 p.m. on June 1, 2026, immediately after he arrived in Nigeria.
He added that the suspect was formally handed over to the Zone 2 Headquarters on June 2, 2026, and is currently undergoing further investigation ahead of possible prosecution.
