Saturday, July 5, 2025 - The Anambra State Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Offences Court in Awka has ordered the remand of a 72-year-old ‘medical doctor’, Daniel Ikebuilo, alongside two women, Ifunanya Ogbonna, 23, and Chidiogo Ogbonna, 20, over alleged child theft and illegal sale.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to a five-count
charge bordering on conspiracy, child stealing, and unlawful sale of a minor.
Presiding Chief Magistrate U.E. Onochie directed that the
accused persons be remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre and adjourned the
matter to August 13 for a ruling on their bail application.
According to the prosecution counsel, Chinyere Okechukwu,
the incident occurred on April 30 at Okpoko in Onitsha.
She told the court that the two female defendants conspired
and fraudulently took a seven-year-old boy from his mother, Kosarachukwu
Okpala.
"They sold the boy to the doctor for N700,000, and the
doctor later re-sold the child for N2.3 million,” Okechukwu said.
She informed the court that the offences violated Sections
495(a) and 321 of the Criminal Code Law of Anambra State (1991, as amended), as
well as Section 31(1)(4) of the state’s Child Rights Law of 2004 and Section
15(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Protection Law of 2017.
The prosecutor further noted that Ifunanya Ogbonna and Dr.
Ikebuilo had previously been arraigned on March 5 for a similar offence.
“Immediately after they perfected their bail application
following the March arraignment, they stole another child in April,” Okechukwu
told the court.
The court is expected to decide on their bail status at the
next hearing.
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