8th December, 2010
A four-year old boy, Fatiu Adegoke, who was reportedly stolen, has been found in a private school two years after he was allegedly sold at Ijegun, a suburb of Lagos, South West Nigeria.
The little boy, who is now four years, was identified by his mother and claimed ownership.
This brought controversy between the real mother and the buyer before the police intervened in the matter.
Following the discovery, two women, Kudirat Bakare, 36 and Tina Lawanson, 45, were arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, where full investigation commenced on the matter.
P.M.NEWS gathered that Kudirat was alleged to have stolen the boy when he was two years old and sold him to Tina, who was looking for a child because she could not bear one.
It was learnt that Tina approached Kudirat and bought the boy for N150,000. She thereafter sent him to school where the mother eventually discovered him.
When the police investigated the matter, it was learnt that Tina confessed that she bought the boy from Kudirat for a fee which she denied. Both of them are now charged to Isolo Magistrate’s Court for conspiracy and stealing.
The charge read: “That you, the defendants, at 19, Pipeline Street, Ijegun, did conspire to steal the victim.â€
The offence is said to be contrary to Section 516 and 371 of the Criminal Code Cap. 17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge, while the magistrate, Mr. W.A.O. Meigbope, granted them bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties. The court ruled that the sureties must be of high repute and on, at least, level 14 in the Lagos civil service.
The matter was been adjourned till 10 January, 2011.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe
