A 24-year-old unemployed woman, Ugochi Ugbawu, who allegedly stole an 11-month-old boy, was brought before a Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court in Awka, Anambra State.
The suspect, who is from Ebonyi State, was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, child stealing and forceful separation and the baby from his family.
The prosecutor, Insp.Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the defendant and others now at large allegedly committed the offences on Jan. 16, at Okpoko in Ogbaru Lo oval Government Area of Anambra.
“That you Ugochi Ugbawu and others now at large conspired to fraudulent steal an 11-month-old baby boy and forcefully separating him from his family,” he said.
Okechukwu said the offences contravened Sections 495(a) and 321of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol. II Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991, as amended and Section 15(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2017.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs U.E. Onochie granted the accused bail in the sum of N3 million with a surety in like sum.
Onochie adjourned the case until May 28, for hearing.
