The Nation Newspaper

Tag: child theft

  • Ex-Director docked for alleged child theft in Delta

    A retired Director, (name withheld), Ministry of Women Affairs and Community Development has been arraigned for alleged child theft in Delta state.

    The director, who retired from the Department of Child, Asaba was arrested after security agents acting on a petition swooped on a couple who implicated him.

    Delta Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Peter Mrakpor who made this known Wednesday during the maiden media briefing of the Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration in Asaba.

    Mrakpor who doubles as the taskforce head, said the 17 member Taskforce is saddled with the responsibility of checking human trafficking and Illegal migration.

    He said the issue of prostitution surrounds the issue of oath taking among victims by their sponsors, adding that Delta State is top among States with the highest number of illegal migrants.

    He identified three categories in the illicit trade to include Nigerians who after being denied visa overseas, attempt crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

    According to him, the other group includes young females lured abroad with promises of a good life, but belong to a syndicate engaged in trafficking young girls for prostitution.

    He said the third group includes young girls or boys used as domestic help often extorted by an agent.

    Mrakpor solicited support from the media, stressing that such collaboration was important to adequately sensitise Deltans.

    READ ALSO: Child theft: Daycare owners trained in child management

    He urged the media to assist in changing the orientation of prospective victims, adding that the Taskforce will also consider the use of town criers in the dissemination of information regarding illegal migration.

    He lamented that some of returnees are uninterested in government rehabilitation programmes, adding that shortly after release from government custody the victims embark on another journey abroad.

    Mrakpor disclosed that three rehabilitation centres are being proposed for the three senatorial zones to ensure that returnees are properly rehabilitated.

    On the case of the arrested serial child trafficker “Madam Cash”, the taskforce chairman said the suspect was in prison custody after the state amended charges against her to include kidnapping.

    His words, “Madam Cash, the serial child trafficker is at Ogwashi-Uku Prison. Trial is on. Initially, she was charged for child stealing which is a bailable offence; she abused her bail conditions after going back to child stealing. The state amended the charge against her to kidnapping after her re-arrest.”

  • Woman charged with alleged child theft

    A 25-year-old woman, Chinaza Anyanwu, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for alleged child stealing.

    She was arraigned with her accomplice, Patience Alagua, aged 49.

    The duo and others at large were alleged to be in the business of child trafficking.

    They allegedly stole and sold three boys between the ages of three and five to unknown buyers at the sum of N300,000 each.

    Read also: Court remands 28-year-old for alleged robbery

    Prosecutor Wilson Isaiah told the court that they had been in the business of child stealing since April until the illegal business was busted last month when they were arrested.

    Magistrate Sokari Andrew-Jaja denied them bail.

    He ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case till January 10 for address.

  • Woman arraigned for child theft

    A 30-year-old woman, Elizabeth Ibezim has been arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing a two-year-old girl in a market.

    Prosecuting Inspector Benson Emeurhi told the court on Monday that Elizabeth committed the offence May 22 at Mile 12 market area of Lagos.

    Benson informed the court that the defendant was caught with a two-year-old Ramadanat Mutinu around 10.30am in the market

    Elizabeth pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Olufunke Sule-Amzat granted the defendant N100,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    She ordered the addresses of the sureties to be verified.

    She adjourned the case till July 9.

  • Woman arraigned for ‘child theft’

    Woman arraigned for ‘child theft’

    A 42-year-old woman, Ndidi Eze, has been arraigned before an Okpanam Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing a two years and seven months old girl at Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The suspect was arraigned on a two-count charge of child theft.

    The charge reads: “That you Ndidi Eze on December 21 at Ogbosadi Quarters, Okpanam did conspire with one Chinyere (surname unknown) now at large to commit felony to wit: Child stealing punishable under the Laws of Delta State 2006.

    “That you, Ndidi Eze and one other now at large on the above date and place did steal one Happiness Ujukwu, two years and seven months and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 371 (1) of the criminal code law Cap c21 Volume 1Laws of Delta State

    The suspect was remanded at the Agbor Prison custody.

    Magistrate C.E Osuma adjourned the case till February 12.

  • Woman charged with attempted child theft in Lagos

    Woman charged with attempted child theft in Lagos

    A 32-year-old woman, Stella Ojei, who allegedly lured a toddler with candy and attempted to steal her, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    According to the prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny,Ojei committed the offence on Oct. 28 on Kareem Babatunde Street, Dopemu, Lagos.

    Donny said that the two- year -old child was playing with his friends when the accused passed by, saw them and lured the child with sweetie.

    “The accused was about taking the child when one of the neighbours sighted her and raised an alarm.

    “The accused was apprehended and handed over to the police,” he said.

    “The offence contravenes Section 406 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015,’’ the prosecutor submitted.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Folakemi Davies-Abegunde granted her bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Davies-Abegunde adjourned the case until Dec. 11 for mention.

    Read Also: Woman charged with stealing clothing materials

  • Three to face trial for ‘child theft’

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, has fixed November 29, for the trial of two men and a woman accused by the police of stealing a three-year old girl, Success Chidinma, last year.

    Emmanuel Okwara, 39, Mary Omotunmise, 47 and Fabian Obi, 40, first to third defendants respectively, were arraigned on March 31, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, child theft and unlawful deprivation of liberty.

    The police alleged that they committed the offences December 22, last year, at around 2pm at 2, Adebumoye Street, Olodi Apapa, Lagos.

    They said the offences contravened Sections 409, 275(1)(a) and 270 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Prosecuting Inspector Simeon Imhonwa told the court that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) was yet to give an advice on the matter.

    Complainants’ counsel Sam Ujunwa told the court that the child had not been found since December 22. He expressed concern that she could have been murdered.

    Magistrate B. O. Osasanmi ruled that since the court had the jurisdiction to hear the matter, it would go on and do so.

    She ordered the prosecutor to retrieve the case file from the DPP and adjourned till November 29 for trial.

  • Davido accused of child theft

    Davido accused of child theft

    Following the saga between famous Nigerian singer, David Adeleke aka Davido, and his baby mama, Sophia Momodu, the singer has been accused of trying to kidnap his By Ovwe Medeme.

    According to information, Sophia’s lawyer has filed a petition against the Adeleke family for alleged abduction of the child, accusing the singer of planning to travel to the United States with the baby without her mother’s consent.

    Addressed to the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Other Related Offences by Gbolaga Ajayi of S. O. AJAYI & CO., the petition said the baby was taken away from the mother in July, 2015.

    From the petition, it was gathered that Sophia was tricked into visiting the house by Davido’s half sister, Ashley Coco Adeleke, with her baby, Imade Aurora Adeleke.

    “After getting to the house on Baderinwa Alabi Street, Lekki Phase I, Lagos, our client’s baby was forcefully taken from her and she was thrown out of the premises with the threat that she would be decisively dealt with if she ever bothered to return there. There were armed policemen on the premises and our client’s survival instinct made her leave her breast-suckling baby behind, with so much pain in her heart,” the petition reads in part.

    It also revealed that the mother of the child was prevented from entering Ashley Adeleke’s residence by armed policemen and was “warned never to return for the child.”

    During the week, Nigerians woke up to a brewing saga between Davido, his baby mama, Sophia and her uncle, Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation Magazine.

    According to information, the Adeleke’s had taken little Imade from her mother and were about to leave the country with her when they were prevented from boarding by airport officials.

    It is believed that her uncle, Dele Momodu called to prevent them from leaving the country with little Imade.

    The ensuing saga led to one of the dirtiest internet bickering Nigerians have witnessed in recent times with both parties revealing sordid details of a relationship that has gone sour.

  • Four women held for alleged child theft

    Four women held for alleged child theft

    A 25-year-old woman, Ms Nkechi Obi, from Omuwa town in Imo State has been arrested by the Police Command for her alleged role in the theft of a week old baby boy.

    She was said to have taken the ‘stolen child’ from Onitsha in Anambra State for ‘delivery’ to the buyer on Lagos Island.

    Police chief Fatai Owoseni said yesterday that the suspect’s interrogation led to the arrest of three other suspects, Ogechi Njoku, Patience Nwaogbo Ego and Ngozi Izuora.

    Owoseni said the suspects told the police that the would-be receiver had already paid N1, 010,000 for the baby. Their collaborator, who is based in Anambra State, he said, is on the run.

    Ms Obi, mother of four, said she was not aware that the child was stolen.

    She said: “What happened was that my sister, though not my biological sister, who I used to help to sell clothes in Onitsha, told me I will be going to Lagos one morning. She chartered a bus and asked me to take a baby to a woman in Lagos. I did not know the woman but she gave me her phone number and told me to call her on phone when I reached Oshodi in Lagos.

    “When I reached Oshodi, the driver of the bus who had been suspecting me based on the fact that the baby had been crying and I was unable to calm him down, drove straight to Makinde Police Division where I was arrested. Upon interrogation, I told them that I was the mother of the child and that the father who had impregnated me out of wedlock had run away. But after much questioning, I had to tell the truth.  I confessed and told the police that my sister at Onitsha gave me the child to send to the buyer whose name was given as Mrs Ogechi. They said Mrs Ogechi has two girls and was said to be looking for a male child which she could not have. So she decided to buy one.

    “Sincerely I have been rather unfortunate in life. I am an orphan who was given into marriage at age 16. I married Mr Paulicap Eze who had a wife and a female child. The idea behind the marriage was to give him more children particularly a male child since his wife could not produce after many years of waiting.  I gave him four children but last year, we had a misunderstanding and I was sent packing living behind three of my children. The fourth child, who is two, was with me until two months ago when my husband came to take him from me.”