Tina Amanda
Two women have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, child trafficking and unlawful taking away of three newborn babies.
Precious Obazi and her friend, Esther Igwe, were alleged to have committed the crime around Igwuruta community in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers, and were reported to the police by the management of a hotel where the suspects were alleged to have taken as a hideout.
According to the charge sheet, Precious Obazi who is the prime suspect in the matter, claimed to have given birth to triplets between 29th May and 10th June 2018.
Obazi who claimed to have returned from the United State of America to deliver her baby in Nigeria, explained that she first gave birth to a set of the twins on the 29th of May and later returned to the maternity home on the 10th of June to give birth to the third child.
The accused told the court that she had invited her sister, Esther Igwe, after giving birth to the set of twins to help her take care of the children when the midwife discovered that another baby was still remaining in her womb.
The chief magistrate, F. N Amanze, after listening to the submissions of the two accused and their lawyers who requested that their clients be granted bail, directed the prosecutor to amend the charges.
TPCN correspondent reported that the chief magistrate thereafter ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and returned on the 28th of June for the mention.
Speaking outside the courtroom, a representative of Federation of International Female Lawyers, Uchenda Okogbule, said that they are in court to ensure that justice prevails in the matter.
Okogbule told newsmen that initial investigation indicates that the prime suspect actually entered her hotel room with pregnancy but also revealed that medical examination conducted so far proved that she was not the rightful owner of the three newborn babies, just as she expects the court to determine the matter.
However, while the prosecutor informed the court that the owner of the maternity home has been on the run, counsels to the accused declined to speak to journalists on the matter.
