Police in Lagos have arrested a 50-year-old Canada returnee, Olushola Ajayi Joshua, over his alleged involvement in a burglary and theft case in which properties valued at more than N150 million were stolen from a residence in Ikeja.
The arrest was announced Tuesday by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos and Ogun states, Moshood Jimoh, during a press briefing at the Zone 2 Headquarters in Onikan.
According to police, the case stemmed from a petition filed on July 11, 2025, by a resident of Sesayon Street in the Government Reserved Area of Ikeja.
The complainant reported that burglars broke into her home and carted away household items and valuables worth over N150 million.
Investigators said the complainant suspected Joshua, an accountant at her late father's company, and several others because they had access to the property.
“She had entrusted him with a spare key to the residence in 2022 to assist with access to the apartment whenever roof leakages occurred during the rainy season,” police said.
The complainant later discovered the burglary during a visit to the property in July 2025 and reported the matter to authorities.
Police said detectives attached to the Zonal Servicom Team launched an investigation that led to the arrest and prosecution of six suspects linked to the case.
However, investigators discovered that Joshua had left Nigeria for Canada shortly after the alleged burglary and was declared wanted.
“Frantic efforts to secure his appearance proved abortive, prompting the command to collaborate with INTERPOL and flag his international passport on July 16, 2025,” Jimoh said.
The breakthrough came on Monday night when INTERPOL officers arrested Joshua at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja upon his arrival from Canada.
“INTERPOL Lagos successfully apprehended Olushola Ajayi Joshua at about 9:30 p.m. on June 1, 2026, upon his return to Nigeria,” the AIG said.
Joshua was handed over to Zone 2 investigators on Tuesday for further questioning and possible prosecution.
Jimoh described the arrest as evidence of growing cooperation between the Nigeria Police Force and INTERPOL.
“This should serve as a clear warning to criminal elements that there will be no safe haven anywhere in the world for those who seek to evade justice,” he said.
Police said investigations are continuing and that the suspect will be charged upon the conclusion of the process.
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