A Chief Magistrate Court, the Children, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence cases sitting in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, has sentenced Faith Obi, 32, and Chinenye Obete, 41, to multiple jail terms.
The court heard charges against
Obi and Obete, including child stealing, abduction of children, and illegal
dealing in children. These offenses fall under the Criminal Code, Laws of
Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition
and Protection) Laws of Anambra State, 2017. The defendants were accused of
fraudulently enticing and harboring a seven-year-old boy, forcefully isolating
the child from his parents' lawful possession.
The offense was alleged to have
occurred in 2023. During the trial, the convicts were granted a two-week grace
period by the court to produce the stolen baby, a requirement they failed to
fulfill.
Presiding Chief Magistrate
Genevieve Osakwe delivered the judgment, declaring the defendants guilty on all
five charges. The chief magistrate emphasized the overwhelming evidence
presented through oral testimonies, plaintiff witness submissions, and
additional materials, affirming that the prosecutor had proven the case beyond
reasonable doubt.
In sentencing, the chief
magistrate imposed concurrent jail terms of four years in count one, five years
in count two, five years in count three, five years in count four, and a
six-month term in count five. No option of fine was provided.
The convicts, Obi from
Akpakumeze in Odi, Enugu State, and Obete from Ezamgbo in Ebonyi State, were
arraigned in 2023 and sentenced this year for offenses including abduction of
children, illegal dealing in children, and child stealing.
Commissioner for Women and
Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, expressed satisfaction with the court's judgment,
warning potential offenders to leave the state, emphasizing the
administration's commitment to swift action. Obinabo commended the court's
efforts in protecting children and pledged to use all available resources to
apprehend the second suspect, currently at large.
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