Two women docked for child-trafficking in Umuahia

Two women, Nkemdirim Adaeze and Ngozi Ukonu, were on Tuesday arraigned before an Umuahia Magistrates’ Court in Abia State for trafficking in persons.
The first accused faces a three-count charge of conspiracy, child-trafficking and unlawful custody, while the second accused is facing a two-count charged of conspiracy and child-trafficking.
The prosecuting counsel, Sampson Onyemucheya, told the court that the accused had on April 24 at Daughter of Zion Rehabilitation/Care Centre, Obingwa Magisterial District, sold a new born baby boy delivered by one Eberechi Achi.
He said that the offence was punishable under Section 23 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement/Administration Act and Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of the Federation 2004, applicable in Abia State.
Onyemucheya said that the first accused had between April 23 and 24 willingly and unlawfully took and kept Achi at her residence and treated her as a slave, thereby contravening Section 24 of the above mentioned Act.
When the charges were read, the accused pleaded not guilty.
The counsel to the first accused, C. Onyekwere, had earlier objected to the first and third charges and urged the court to strike them out.
Onyekwere said that the police was not competent to prosecute the matter.
He said the issue should be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters.
Onyekwere applied for the bail of the first accused, saying that it was unlawful to keep her in police custody when no court of competent jurisdiction had found her guilty.
In her ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Elizabeth Kalu, denied the bail application and directed the accused to be remanded.
Kalu adjourned the case to May 31 for hearing.