Philadelphia cab driver Kehinde Akano and his wife, Ninilole, were publicly commended and presented with his-and-her Seiko watches for their part in foiling the getaway of two robbery suspects from a Center City jewelry store.

Hy Goldberg, president of the Jewelers’ Row Association and owner of Safian & Rudolph Jewelers, told JCK that the association decided to honor the couple not because he thwarted a robbery at a jewelry store but because Akano acted as an upstanding member of the community. “This is a good citizenship award,” Goldberg said. “He took an active part in making the community better, and he should be recognized for it.”

On Oct. 17, Akano unknowingly picked up the robbery suspects in his cab. He became suspicious and called Ninilole on his cell phone. The couple, who immigrated to the United States from Nigeria, conversed in their native Yoruba, which the passengers did not understand. Akano told his wife where he was headed, and she notified police and relayed her husband’s location. Police closed in and arrested a pair of Philadelphia residents, Michael Jones, 18, and Jonathan Allen, 31. Both were charged with robbery, weapons offenses, and related crimes. A Rolex watch taken from the jeweler and a loaded .45-caliber pistol were recovered from the cab, police said.