By Brave Dickson
One Gift Thompson, “f’ aged 31 has been dragged to court by the Rivers State Police Command for allegedly stealing a baby of about six weeks old by name Godwin Amabintol.
The lady was accused of stealing the baby from the custody of his parents within the axis of the Abua/Odual Local Government Area of the state.
Our correspondent reports that the defendant was sighted carrying the alleged stolen baby in her arms when she appeared before presiding Magistrate, Rita Oguguo for trial.
According to a charge sheet marked as PMC/1146c/2020, the defendant was charged on two counts bordering on conspiracy and child stealing.
It reads in part: ” That you Gift Thompson, ‘f’ aged 31 with others now at large did on the 20th day of August 2020 at Ogbema Community in Abua conspired among yourselves to steal a child.
“That you Gift Thompson and others now at large did steal one Godwin Amabintol, ‘m’ of a month and two weeks old from the custody and against the will of his parents Mr/Mrs Charity Ikeja Amabintol.”
The offences upon which the defendant is standing trial are punishable under sections 519 (A) and 371 (1) of the criminal code cap 37, vol 11, laws of the Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.
However, attempts to secure the bail of the defendant hit brick walls, following an objection raised by the prosecutor, ASP Idafi who insisted that the mother of the stolen child must be in court.