Nigerian-born immigrant who robbed four men in one day is jailed for five years in the UK

A Nigerian-born man has been sentenced to five years in prison in the United Kingdom after being convicted of robbing four men in London.

Wasiu Smith, 26, stole several phones, a work laptop, and an heirloom ring valued at £600 during a series of robberies near Farringdon Tube station on November 4, 2025, according to Mail Online.

Smith, who was born in Nigeria and holds a Dutch passport, has lived in the UK since 2019. He first settled in Shropshire before later moving to Walsall.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that Smith claimed he travelled from Canary Wharf to see Christmas lights, although they had not yet been switched on.

Prosecutor Adrian Yallan told the court that one of Smith’s victims was Alex Belsham-Harris, head of Energy Consumer Markets at Citizens Advice.

The court heard that Smith approached Belsham-Harris after he left a gym, pulled a scarf over his face, and struck him several times behind the ear before taking his bag containing a work laptop.

Belsham-Harris was left dizzy and struggled to stand before seeking help at a nearby Tesco.

Another victim, Bonny Wambulu, was standing outside his office on Farringdon Road when Smith allegedly approached him and demanded money while acting as if he had a weapon.

Smith’s third victim, Alexander Burgess, had just collected an opal ring from a jeweller when Smith allegedly threatened him and took the ring.

The fourth victim, Michael Evesque, managing director of lighting company Bert Frank, was reportedly confronted while walking towards his office.

Police later arrested Smith on a bus, where they found him with stolen items and a wrap of crack cocaine.

During questioning, Smith claimed the stolen rucksack and opal ring belonged to him, said he had been attacked by unknown people, and alleged that the drugs were planted.

His lawyer, Katie Knafler, argued that there could have been an innocent reason for Smith keeping one hand in his pocket during the robberies.

“It might have been cold,” she said.

However, Judge Charles Falk rejected the explanation, saying people do not commit robberies with one hand in their pocket.

Smith was sentenced for three counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, one count of common assault, and one count of possessing a Class A drug.

Judge Falk said Smith showed “no insight and no remorse” and carried out the offences to obtain crack cocaine.