Cleric, sister in court for allegedly stealing eight-month-old baby

The Police, yesterday, arraigned a cleric, Stanley Maduka, 40, and his sister, Glory Uma, 50, in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing an eight-month-old baby boy.

Maduka, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was charged with two counts of conspiracy and child theft, while Uma was charged with receiving a stolen baby.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecution Counsel, Emuerhi Benson, told the court that the defendants committed the offence on October 18 at Iyana Ishashi Bus Stop in Magboro area of Lagos.

Emuerhi alleged that Maduka, a pastor attached to Encounter with God Ministries at Toll Gate Bus-stop, Off Badagry Expressway, conspired with his sister and ”bought” an eight-month-old baby boy suspected to be stolen.

He alleged that Maduka said he met with one Mrs. Chimecherem, now at large, who claimed to be a victim of domestic violence and needed to raise some money.

“Maduka then agreed with her to sell the baby for N250, 000 and contacted his sister, Uma, who has been married for 16 years without a child and told her about the arrangement.

“They paid N235, 000 to Chimecherem, who claimed to be the baby’s mother and had told them that she had three other children and couldn’t take care of the baby,” he said.

The Prosecutor said on October 27, this year, at Marogbo area of Lagos, based on information received by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (BIS), the defendants were arrested with the baby, whose biological parents were yet to be identified.

The Prosecutor also disclosed that the baby had been taken to a Juvenile Welfare Centre in Alakara, Mushin for protective custody.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Sections 277(a)(b), 328 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Magistrate Olufunke Sule–Amzat admitted the defendants to bail in the sum N200, 000 each, with two sureties each in like sum, who must provide proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government for three years.

Sule-Amzat adjourned the case until January 23, next year for mention.