Three Arraigned For Abduction & Selling Of Minors


Three persons, Kingsley Linus, Martina Owelikpe and Ngozi Nwoha, were on Monday arraigned before an Abuja Senior Magistrate’s Court for alleged criminal conspiracy, abduction and selling of minors.

According to the prosecutor, Mr Udochukwu Jonathan, Linus (no fixed address), Owelikpe (51 Crescent, C Close Kubwa, Abuja), and Nwoha (Umuchigbo, Enugu State), had been in the business for a long time.

Jonathan, in a First Information Report against the accused, told the court that they had lured one Prisca Asugwo and three other female with their babies to Abuja.

“The accused persons between the months of August and September had lured Asugwo, and the three other ladies with their babies to Abuja with Linus promising to marry and take care of them.

“They conspire and keep them against their will and eventually sell the babies for ritual and other purposes afterwards,” Jonathan said.
He said that the offences were contrary to sections 97, 272, 273, 278, and 74 of the Penal Code.

The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Senior Magistrate Binta Mohammed granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 each with a reasonable surety each who must be civil servants, live within the jurisdiction of the court, present to the court a copy of their last promotion letter and last utility bill as evidence; in like sum.

She adjourned the case till 21 November for further hearing.