The defendants in the case of alleged child stealing face three counts before Port-Harcourt High Court presided by Honourable Justice S. H. Aprioku.
In the case prosecuted by the State, the four defendants face three counts of kidnapping, armed robbery and child stealing. They are Promise Thompson, Queen Lucky, Lucky Wokoma and Beatrice Ogunka.
The crime of kidnapping is contrary to Section 1(2)(b) of the Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) Amendment Law, No. 5 of 2018 and was allegedly committed by the first defendant Promise Thompson when he allegedly armed himself with a gun and other dangerous weapons and kidnapped with the help of others now at large a six-year-old boy on Trans Kalabari Road, Iwofe on October 25, 2018 and demanded ransom.
The defendant and the others also robbed father of the child Mr Chidiebere Ogbuobu of his valuables.
The defendants also robbed mother of the child of valuables amounting to ninety thousand naira (N90,000) on the day of the incident.
On the count of child stealing, three defendants Queen Lucky, Lucky Wokoma and Beatrice Ogunka face the charge of fraudulently taking away the six-year-old child and unlawfully harbouring them.
The six-year-old, Chigozirim Ogbuobu, was kidnapped and taken to Aba in Abia State for sale to a Catholic num and was later found in a motherless babies home run by Catholic num.
When the case came up in court recently, the defendants who were in their prison uniform were called out for trial. However, Beatrice Ogunka who was said to be on administrative bail was not among them as she was said to have jumped bail.
She is said to be the kingpin of the criminal group who specializes in buying and selling of babies.
When the case came up recently the presiding judge told the court that it was case of child stealing against second and third defendants while first defendant was being tried for shooting the father of the six-year-old and kidnapping the child.
The counsel for second and third defendants cross-examined the first prosecution witness in which he said his clients did not take part in the stealing of the child but the prosecution witness said they took part in stealing of the child.
He also alleged the prosecution witness wanted to collect bribe in order to release third defendant but the witness said he did not demand money in order to release the third defendant.
The second and third defendants are Queen Lucky and Lucky Wokoma.
The case comes up on 17 March for continuation of cross-examination.
