Three women, who allegedly kidnapped
a three-week-old baby in Ayobo area of Lagos, were, yesterday, docked before an
Ikeja chief magistrate’s court. The accused, Theresa Ezeala, 56; Augustina
Oparaocha, 54 and Florence Ifeanyi, 52, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy,
kidnapping and receiving a stolen child. They are residents of Ayobo area of
Ipaja, a Lagos suburb. Also yesterday, a 37-year-old herbalist, Sikiru Ifashola,
appeared before an Ebute Meta magistrate’s court in Lagos, for allegedly
kidnapping a child and demanding a ransom for her release. On the
three-week-old baby, the three accused docked in Ikeja, however, pleaded not
guilty to the charges. The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Imhonwa, told the court
that the accused committed the offences with others still at large sometimes in
November 2014 at Idi-Orogbo, Ayobo, Lagos. Imhonwa alleged that the trio
kidnapped the baby of Chioma Nwakwu, the complainant. Sold for hospital bill He
told the court that the complainant was living with Ezeala, her aunt, before
she became pregnant and the supposed father denied responsibility of the
pregnancy. Imhonwa said: “At the time of Nwakwu’s delivery at Ifako-Ijaiye General
Hospital, Agege, which was through caesarean section, the complainant could not
afford the hospital bills and care of the baby. “The second accused, Oparaocha,
a nurse, then approached Ezeala to sell the baby to Ifeanyi, who was willing to
adopt the baby at a price.” Imhonwa added that without the knowledge of the
complainant, Ezeala and Oparaocha sold the baby for N500,000 to Ifeanyi.
According to the prosecutor, “the whereabouts of the baby was not disclosed to
Nwakwu after she was discharged from hospital until recently when the accused
were apprehended by the police.” The offence contravened Sections 275, 326 and
409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Section 275 prescribes 10 years
imprisonment for anyone who unlawfully captures and detains another against
his/her will. Chief Magistrate B. O. Osunsanmi admitted each of the accused to
N2 million bail with two sureties each, in like sum. Herbalist asked for
N50,000 Meanwhile, the 37-year-old herbalist, Sikiru Ifashola, who appeared
before an Ebute Meta magistrate’s court in Lagos for allegedly kidnapping a
child and demanding a ransom for her release, lives at 16, Sholuyi Street,
Ifako Gbagada. He is standing trial on a charge of kidnapping, which he pleaded
not guilty to. The prosecutor, Sergeant Jimah Iseghede, told the court that the
accused committed the offence on June 12 at about 9.30 a.m., at Ogudu GRA. He
said the accused abducted one Bose, daughter of the complainant, Mopelola
Adewunmi, and demanded N50,000 for her release. Iseghede added that “Ifashola
had pretended to consult his oracle for the search of the missing girl and had
demanded that the complainant pay him N50,000 before she could be found.” The
offence contravened Section 271(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The magistrate, Miss Tolu Idowu, admitted Ifashola to N100,000 bail with two
responsible sureties in like sum. Idowu said the sureties must be gainfully
employed, and adjourned the case till August 2, for mention
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