A 54-year old woman, Comfort Ozichukwu Ukonu, has landed in trouble for allegedly conspiring with a child trafficking syndicate to buy a two weeks old stolen baby for adoption in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Police operatives from the Gender Section of the Lagos State Command have arrested the suspect, Mrs. Comfort, alongside her accomplice, David Chijindu Ebukachukwu, 32, who allegedly stole the baby from Owerri town, Imo State and sold same to Mrs. Comfort.
Both Mrs, Comfort and Ebukachukwu are facing charges of conspiracy, child trafficking and stealing.
The Police alleged that In November, 2022, Mrs. Comfort obtained the sum of N2m from one Mrs. Joy Ijeoma Nwaofor and her husband, Ben in Umuahia, Abia State, under the false pretence of facilitating legal adoption of a baby girl for them.
However, instead of doing so, Mrs. Comfort allegedly conspired with David Ebukachukwu, who resides in Abuja, stole the baby and gave to the couple who reportedly paid them money.
It was gathered that David Ebubechukwu went to Owerri, Imo State, stole the baby and gave to Mrs. Comfort in Lagos State for an undisclosed amount.
The whole thing later got exposed and the matter was reported to the Police, who then recovered the baby, arrested the suspects and transferred to them to the Gender Section of the Lagos State Command for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found them culpable for conspiracy and stealing of the baby to deprive the parents of the lawful care of the baby.
They were later moved to the Ogba Magistrate Court to be arraigned for the alleged Criminal offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
However, the Court did not take their plea when they were arraigned over jurisdiction because the alleged criminal offence of conspiracy and stealing was committed outside the Lagos State jurisdiction.
Thus, the matter was transferred to Umuahia, Abia State, where the defendants will be prosecuted under the Criminal law of Abia State.