A 56-year old woman, Princess Georgina David, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly operating an illegal motherless babies home and using same to swindle a woman, Tochi Lucy, who wanted to buy another woman’s male child for adoption.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the woman, Mrs. Lucy, escaped arrest and prosecution because she was the complainant despite the fact that she actually knew that the motherless babies home was illegal.
However, the owner of the home, Mrs. David, was arrested and charged for the alleged fraud and operating an illegal motherless babies home.
The incident happened on 21st January, 2024, at No.12, Alajimo Drive, Ijagemo Road, Ijegun, Lagos.
According to the Police, the complainant contacted Mrs. David and paid her the money in question to help get a baby for adoption and she waited to no avail.
The matter was reported to the Police at Isheri Oshun Division. The operatives moved into action, arrested Mrs. David and detained her at the station for interrogation.
During the interrogation, the Police discovered that she was not operating the home with Government approval and she was found culpable. She was charged before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment?
The charges read:
“That you, PRINCESS GEORGINA DAVID ‘F’ on the 20/01/2024 at No.12, Alajimo Drive, Ijagemo Road Ijegun, Lagos, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by converting a rented two bedroom living apartment to a motherless babies home, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 168(d) of the criminal law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:” That you, PRINCESS GEORGINA DAVID ‘F’ on the same day, place and time at the aforementioned magisterial district, did operate Illegal motherless babies home without license, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 276(j) of the criminal law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, PRINCESS GEORGINA DAVID ‘F’ on the same day, place and time at the aforementioned magisterial district, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira Only) from one Tochi Lucy ‘F’ under the pretence to give her a male child to adopt from your illegal motherless babies home, which you failed to do, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the criminal law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT IV:” That you, PRINCESS GEORJINA DAVID ‘F’ on the same day, place and time at the aforementioned magisterial district, did collect the sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira Only) from one Tochi Lucy ‘F’ to give her a male child to adopt but failed to do so and finally converted the money to your own personal use, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
However, she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.A. Popoola, granted her bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 21st April, 2025, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.