An Ikeja Special Offences Court Tuesday remanded two women in custody of Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS) centre for allegedly kidnapping and selling a three-year-old (names withheld) baby for N650, 000.
The women, Mercy Sampson and Stella Madueke, were arraigned by the Commissioner of Police Lagos State command, Panti.
They were arraigned on a five count charge of conspiracy, kidnapping and obtaining money by false pretense before Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo.
Police prosecutor, Joseph Eboseremen, told the court that the defendants kidnapped the three-year-old baby at Mountain of Fire and Prayer Ministries Church, Agege.
Eboseremen said that the defendants kidnapped the baby-girl during a church service and sold her to one Chikodi at the sum of N650, 000.
The prosecutor said that the two women also fraudulently obtained the sum of N700, 000 from one Magus Nwaigbo on the pretence of adopting a baby from an orphanage.
“On March 24, 2019 at Igando Area of Lagos State, the defendants did obtain the sum of N700, 000 from one Magnus Nwaigbo under the pretence that they have two-years-old girl from the Holy Infant Orphanage home for adoption, a presentation they knew to be false,” Eboseremen said.
The prosecutor further said that the offences are punishable under Section 2 and 3 of the kidnapping prohibition laws of Lagos State 2017.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo remanded the defendants at the Correctional Service custody.
She adjourned the matter till March 18, 2020.