trafficking
By Onozure Dania

Lagos- A 45 year old man Ikechukwu Odoh has been arraigned by a Lagos Magistrate’s Court sitting at Ajegunle for allegedly trafficking his children ages between 13 and 15.

Odoh whose residential address was not given is facing a two count charge bordering on child trafficking.

The prosecutor Inspector Augustine Ejembi told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on July 18, 2018.

He said that the incident occurred at about 4pm, at Prayer Estate in Apapa area of Lagos.

Ejembi said that the defendant stole the two children from their mother Eme Udoh.

According to the prosecutor the offence committed is punishable under section 277 of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.

Earlier the mother of the children who has been cohabiting with the defendant before the incident occurred said ” On the day of the incident l went to church and before I got home, my children’s father had taken them away from me.”

“I don’t know my children’s whereabout I don’t know where their father took them to as he refused to tell me where he hails from, ever since we have been living together and had the two children he took away from me, I have never met his people, he has only being promising me that he will take me to meet his people but he has continuously refused to do so, “Udoh said.

According to her, I and the defendant are not married we were just living together, and I was responsible for his upkeep.

Udoh said ” My children were between ages 10 and 12, when their father took them away from me in 2015. He was arrested and was later released to go and bring back my children, but he ran away since then, until a neighbour now saw him at Cele area of Lagos this July before he was rearrested and charged to court.”

When he was asked where the children where he said the children were with his sister in Enugu state.

However the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

The Magistrate Mrs O.M Ajayi granted him bail in the sum of N100,000, with one surety in like sum.

She adjourned the case till September 20, for mention.