Father accuses woman of stealing son with N20

Police in Lagos, yesterday, arraigned a
36-year-old woman, Awosoka Abiodun, before a
magistrate’s court sitting in Ikeja for allegedly
stealing a child.

The defendant was arraigned before Magistrate
B. O. Osunsanmi over the offence allegedly
committed on May 16 at Church Street,
Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Abiodun is facing a count charge of child stealing
preferred against her by the police.

According to the complainant, Mr. Chibueze
Oduba’s statement: “The facts of the case is that
on March 5, at about 4:30p.m., two of my sons,
Michael Chibueze and Solomon Chibueze, both
left home for their mother’s shop.

“On getting to Ihomas Olaniyan Street, Ajegunle,
before their mother’s shop at Ariyo Street,
Ajegunle, one woman Abiodun, waylaid them.

“She gave the elder one Michael N20 to go and
buy biscuit, but when he returned, he could not
find his younger brother and the said woman.

“Chibueze started crying and that attracted
passers-by who took him to Owode Onirin Police
Station before they called me and explained
what had happened.”

He further said all efforts made to locate the
said woman proved abortive.

“After a month, we saw the woman at the same
place. She pretended to be a beggar, while
playing with some children,” he added.

At first the defendant pleaded guilty in Yoruba
language before the court, but when the fact was
read in Yoruba language to her, she pleaded not
guilty.

The IPO, Corporal Adegbenle Sunbo, informed
the court that he could not locate the accused's
family, but she told the court that they should
take her home and her family will identify her.

The magistrate granted her bail in the sum of
N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. The
sureties must be working in a reputable
company and will show evidence of tax payment.

The matter was adjourned till September 26.