KINGSLEY EBERE
Police intelligence operatives from the Lagos State Command have arrested two women, Ujunwa Uba, 29 and Chinelo Igbeonwe, 20, for allegedly stealing two new born babies and were caught at a bus stop on their way to sell the babies babies to their clients.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 7th September, 2024, at Berger Bus Stop in Lagos, where the Police apprehended them and rescued the babies allegedly stolen from their parents.
According to the Police, the suspects and others now at large conspired and stole the 6-day old babies from their parents and escaped.
However, they ran out of luck as they were arrested and transferred to the Gender Section of the State Command for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found them culpable for stealing the babies and consequently charged them before the Court for the alleged offence.
The charges read:
COUNT I: That you. Ujunwa Uba,f and Chinelo Igbeonwe,f and others now at large, on the 7th day of September, 2024 at about 1900hours, at Berger Bus Stop, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony to wit: child stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II: That you, Ujunwa Uba ‘f, Chinelo Igbeonw T and others at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal two new born babies of about six days old from their parents and deprived them of lawful custody and care and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 277 of the Criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted them bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.