Fugitive Accountant Arrest sees police and INTERPOL detain suspect over alleged N150m Lagos burglary after nearly a year on the run

The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Command, in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, on Thursday confirmed the arrest of accountant Olusola Ajayi Joshua over his alleged involvement in a N150 million burglary case in Ikeja, Lagos, bringing a dramatic end to a nearly year-long manhunt.

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Olusola Ajayi Joshua, a 50-year-old accountant, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 9:30 p.m. on June 1, 2026, shortly after arriving in Nigeria, according to police authorities.

The arrest followed a petition dated July 11, 2025, submitted to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, in which a complainant reported a burglary at her residence located on Sesayon Street in the Government Reserved Area, Ikeja.

The petitioner alleged that unknown individuals broke into her home and stole household items and valuables estimated at over N150 million, describing the incident as a deeply distressing and organised theft.

She further alleged that Joshua, who had served as an accountant in her late father’s company for more than 17 years, may have had links to the incident, alongside six other individuals.

According to her statement, Joshua had been entrusted with a spare key to the property in 2022 to assist with occasional access, particularly during rainy seasons when water leakage issues required attention.

Police investigators attached to the Zonal Servicom Team, formerly known as the Zonal Strike Force, subsequently launched a probe that led to the arrest and prosecution of six suspects believed to have had access to the property.

However, authorities said Joshua had left Nigeria for Canada in July 2025 shortly after the alleged burglary, prompting his declaration as a wanted person after he failed to cooperate with ongoing investigations.

Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, AIG Olohundare Jimoh, said repeated efforts to secure Joshua’s cooperation were unsuccessful, leading to INTERPOL’s involvement in the case.

According to Jimoh, the command formally requested INTERPOL assistance on July 16, 2025, resulting in the suspect being placed on an international watchlist.

The Fugitive Accountant Arrest was executed when INTERPOL operatives in Lagos intercepted Joshua upon his return to the country, immediately taking him into custody before handing him over to Zone 2 Command for further investigation.

The police stated that the suspect is currently being interrogated and will be charged to court upon completion of ongoing investigations.

Authorities described the operation as a significant breakthrough in cross-border policing, highlighting improved coordination between Nigerian law enforcement agencies and international partners.

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The case has drawn public attention due to the scale of the alleged theft and the suspect’s long absence from the country before his eventual return and arrest.