Two women lay claims to baby

Two women have laid claims to a baby boy, Emmanuel Okoro, who was recovered from alleged human traffickers by the police in Imo State.

Emmanuel, who was born on August 9, 2010, was allegedly stolen from his parents’ home at Awada-Obosi in Onitsha, Anambra State, by a nurse, Ngozi Okeke.

The baby was 18 months old, when the suspect, who pretended to be an aunt, tricked the house help that was taking care of the child and took him away.

Emmanuel’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chinedu Okoro, reported the case to Awada Police Station and a few months later, Ngozi was arrested while allegedly trying to steal another baby.

It was learnt that Ngozi specialises in stealing children from Onitsha and taking them to her home in Imo State, where she sells them.

When she was arrested, the Okoros’ house help identified her as the person who stole Emmanuel.

It was learnt that the baby was recovered but the police could not hand him over to the Okoros because another woman, who said she left her baby in Ngozi’s care laid claims to him.

The Okoros’ counsel, Mr. Ignatius Umennabude, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police over the police’s refusal to release the baby to his clients.

He said they denied his clients access to the child, whom they claimed was with the Social Welfare Officer in Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

Umennabude said the Deputy Police Commissioner in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) told them that the other woman laying claims to the child said she gave birth to the baby when she was still in school and told the nurse to take care of him until she completed her education, but her baby was nowhere to be found when she returned.

Ngozi said the baby belongs to the Okoros and could not provide the whereabouts of the other woman’s son.

The police said a DNA test would be carried out to determine the baby’s parents.

Ngozi and 12 others have been arraigned for allegedly stealing and trafficking children.

Police spokesman Sam Oodee could not be reached for comments.

via The Nation