Three women docked over alleged kidnap of three-week-old baby

Three women, who allegedly kidnapped a three-week-old baby in Ayobo area of Lagos State, were on Tuesday docked before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The accused: Theresa Ezeala, 56; Augustina Oparaocha, 54; and Florence Ifeanyi, 52 – are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and receiving stolen child.
They are residents of Ayobo area of Ipaja, a Lagos suburb.
The women, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, 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.
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 cannot 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 said that without the knowledge of the complainant, Ezeala and Oparaocha sold the baby for N500, 000 to Ifeanyi.
He said: “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.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 275 prescribes 10 years imprisonment for anyone who unlawfully captures and detains another against his/her will.
he Chief Magistrate, B.O. Osunsanmi, admitted each of the accused to N2 million bail with two sureties each in like sum.
Osunsanmi said that the sureties must be property owners within the court jurisdiction and should also provide evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was adjourned until July 21 for mention.