Police on Wednesday arraigned three persons for allegedly kidnapping and selling three children at the Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State.
The defendants – Thank-God Taiwo (35), Patience Chikezie (54), and Folake Oluyinka (43) – were arraigned for conspiracy, kidnapping and human trafficking.
The Magistrate, Mrs. O.O Fadairo, however, did not take their pleas but directed that the case file should be sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice
She ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional centre and adjourned the case till March 19 for mention.
Earlier, the State Prosecutor, Mr. I.A. Opayemi, told the court that the defendants and others still at large committed the offences between April 1 and December 23, 2024, at Under Bridge in Sango.
Opayemi alleged that the defendants and their accomplices conspired to kidnap Kofoworola Akande (7), Mohees Daniel (4), and Divine Jesulayomi (4).
The prosecutor said the defendants allegedly sold the children for N650,000, N2.5 million and N1.4 million respectively.
He alleged that Taiwo killed one Blessing Onwona (28) by suffocating her with a cloth.
He said the offences contravened Sections 30 (1) and 30 (3) of the Child’s Rights Act, Law of Ogun, 2003.