Court remands 3 suspects in prison over alleged kidnap of kids in South West and selling them off in South East
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A court in Akure has remanded three suspects in prison over alleged kidnap of 14 children across two states in the South West and selling them off at N500,000 each in the South East.
An Ondo Magistrate’s Court remanded Sabira Izuora, Lukman Isiaka, and Abosede Olanipekun upon their police arraignment for allegedly kidnapping and selling four babies and 10 under-aged children in Osun and Ondo.
The police said after Isiaka and Olanipekun kidnapped the victims in both states they sold them to one Izuora, a woman aged 62, who operated an orphanage in Enugu.
Commissioner of Police Wilfred Afolabi alleged during the parade of the suspects that they sold each child to Izuora for N500,000 and she sold each for N1 million to her customers.
They were arraigned before the court on seven counts involving conspiracy, abduction, felony, obtaining by false pretences, and aiding and abetting.
It was learnt that the police charged the suspects to court for stealing two babies while other victims were still in their custody.
Police prosecutor Augustine Omhenimhen, an Inspector of Police, told the court that the offences were committed between 21 July 2023 and 27 August 2024 at various locations in Ondo.
“Olanipekun and Isiaka, on July 21, 2023, at Ire-Akari Hall, Orita Obele Estate, Akure, abducted a child, Ayomide Abass, from his mother, Korede Abass.
“Similarly, on August 27, 2024, at 8:00am, in Arigidi-Akoko, Ondo State, they abducted a nine-month-old baby, Bright, from her mother, Patience Oliver,” Omhenimhen said.
He also alleged that Izuora received and harboured the victims paying N900,000 for each child, fully aware that they were stolen.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 516 and 317(1) of the Criminal Code and Sections 3(1)(b) and 5(1) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010.
Omhenimhen filed a written application requesting the court to remand the defendants at the Olokuta Correctional Centre in Akure, pending advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Magistrate Taiwo Lebi ruled that the court lacks jurisdiction to take the defendants’ pleas and ordered them remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre.
He directed the case file be sent to the DPP for legal advice and adjourned the matter until 10 April 2025 for further mention.
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