Three women arraigned for child kidnapping, stealing

Three women, Gladys Augustine (28), Eze Rita (50) and Ugochinyere Nweke (56) were yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates Court on charges of child kidnapping and stealing.

The women were arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for kidnapping a three year old Child, (names withheld) and demanded N800, 000 ransom from her parents

Augustine said she met a man identified as Samuel at Kola bus stop in Agbado Ijaiye area of Lagos, who specializes in arranging kidnapping of children and selling them.

She said Samuel tutored and revealed profits in the business before inducing her into the crime.

Augustine said she was asked to go to the victim’s mother, pretending to be searching for bead making apprentice job.

Eventually, she was accepted by the victim’s mother. Augustine served only three days in the shop and on the third day absconded with the three year old child.

Augustine, knowing full well she had an evil plan, deleted her pictures taken by the child’s mother.

After kidnapping the child, Augustine called Samuel, who paid her N50, 000 and instructed her to take the child to Onitsha, to a woman identified as Rita Eze. Eze was said to have accepted the baby and paid N390, 000.

Prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Imohonwa, told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 409 and 269 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Magistrates, Mrs B. O Osasunmi, said the defendants should remain in detention until next adjournment, June 1, 2017.