Two Reverend sisiers, were on Monday, remanded by the Children, S£xual and Gender-based Violence Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, for !llegal dealings and fraudulent adoption of children.
They are identified as Angela Onyenachi Ibe, aged 42, and Mother-General, Reverend Sister Chiemelie Jacinta Yvonne, aged 41.
The defendants were arraigned on a four-count charge of consp!racy, obtained by pretence, pun!shable under sections 495(a) and 386 of the Cr!minal Code, Cap 36, Volume II, the Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991.
They were also charged with !llegal dealings with children as well as fr@udulent adoption, pun!shable under Section 30(2)(b) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.
However, when the charge was read to the defendants, to the satisfaction of the honourable court, they each, pleaded not gu!lty to the offences.
Responding to questions during the arraignment, the two defendants stated that they both hailed from Imo State.
They also added that they were staff members and attendants at the Sam Damian Community Children’s and Old People’s Home, located at Obosi in Anambra State.
Delivering a ruling on the bail application, the Presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve C. Osakwe, described the ground of the bail application as very weak, and unknown to the law.
The magistrate frowned at and vehemently bemoaned what she termed, “the rising cases of !llegal ad0ption and dealings on children, in Anambra State,” and called on the security agencies in the state, especially, the police authorities, to “extend their search, arrest and pr0secution of all persons involved in the management of !llegal community children’s and old people’s homes, across the state”.
The case was therefore adjourned further to May 29 and June 26, 2024, for a definite hearing.
The Court ordered that the defendants be remanded at the State Cr!minal Investigation Department, Awka.
Peoplesmind
