Police operatives from the Gender Section, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja have uncovered what authorities described as an alleged baby-fraud syndicate run by a 46-year-old woman known as “Mummy Calabar”.
The suspect, Abigeal Joshua Emmanuel, also known as Poshua Emmanuel (a.k.a Mummy Calabar), was on Monday arraigned before the Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos over allegations of obtaining money by false pretence, assault, and child trafficking.
According to Charge No. M-18/34/26/2026, the prosecution told the court that Police investigations revealed how the defendant allegedly operated between October 2024 and December 2025 within the Lagos Magisterial District.
The prosecution was led by SP Philip Ademigbuji. He told the court that the defendant conspired with Dr. Chinyere Precious (now at large), Nurse Uju (now at large) and others now at large to commit a felony to wit: Obtaining Money by False Pretence and Child Trafficking. The offence is punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In Count II, the prosecution alleged that between October 2024 and November 2025, the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained the aggregate sum of Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,500,000.00) from one Chinwendu Madonna Igwilo.
Police said “Mummy Calabar” told the victim she possessed herbal and medical means to make her get pregnant, manage her maternity period, and deliver her of biological children. The prosecution told the court that the pretence was known by the defendant to be false and fraudulent, an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Count III stated that within the same period, the defendant allegedly administered unknown herbal substances and toxic hormonal mixtures to the victim under the guise of “pregnancy care”. This, the Police said, caused the victim unnatural abdominal swelling and severe physical distress.
The charge further alleged that the defendant violently assaulted the victim by slapping her when she demanded her sister’s presence in what was described as a “mock delivery room”. The prosecution said this contravened Section 173 and Section 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In Count IV, Police told the court that in November 2025, the defendant allegedly fraudulently procured, harboured, and delivered two children, a boy and a girl, to the victim. The children were falsely presented as her biological offspring following a simulated, drug-induced delivery.
The prosecution told Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu that the children were later subjected to DNA analysis which conclusively proved they had 0% biological relationship to the victim. The act, the Police said, is punishable under Section 277 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The matter was investigated by ACP Oluwatoyin Kazeem with ASP Odekeye Raimot as the IPO from the Gender Section, Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.
When the charges were read to her, the defendant did not take a plea.
After listening to the prosecution, Magistrate Kusanu granted the defendant bail with two sureties.
The Police told the court that exhibits had been recovered in connection with the case. Details of the exhibits were not disclosed in open court.
The matter was adjourned for mention to allow the prosecution to present proof of evidence and for the defendant to perfect her bail conditions.