2 persons bag multiple sentences for child stealing in Anambra

By Madu Obi

Two persons, Kingsley Chinedu Okeke, (22 years) and Chukwuemeka Nweke, (27 years,) have been convicted and sentenced to multiple jail terms by the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court of Anambra State, sitting in Awka for child stealing.

The committed the offense sometime in 2023, and we're arraigned in court on a 4-count charge of child stealing, illegal dealing in children; fraudulently enticing away and harboring one year and two months old baby boy; forcefully isolating the child from the lawful possession of his parents; and infliction of physical injuries on the child.

The offenses are punishable under the Criminal Code, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991, the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State, 2017.

During the court proceedings, the defense counsel tried to convince the court on the good character of the defendants and passionately prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.

In the words of the defense counsel, both were first-offenders, adding that they had sincerely expressed regrets for their wrongdoings.

However, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe, acknowledged that in law, justice is not a one-way traffic, and stated that in passing sentences on the defendants, the court would not be unmindful of the existing practice directions, prescribed in the Sentencing Guidelines of Anambra State of Nigeria.

Osakwe found the defendants guilty on all the four -count charges brought against them, and chided them for wasting the time of court, by blatantly telling lies on oath, throughout the duration of the case.

The judgment read in part: “Based on the oral testimonies of the defendants, their written depositions, made at the earliest opportunity, the submissions of the prosecution witnesses, as well as other materials placed before the court in respect of the case, there were overwhelming pieces of evidence against the defendants, and the prosecutor had proved his case beyond reasonable doubts.

Accordingly, the two defendants, Kingsley Chinedu Okeke and Chukwuemeka Nweke are both to serve one-year imprisonment in count 1; 6 years imprisonment in count 2; 6 years imprisonment in count 3; and a term of 2 years imprisonment in court 4.

All the sentences would run concurrently, without any option of fine.”

Reacting to the development, the Anambra State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Honourable Ify Obinabo expressed satisfaction with the outcome and warned intending offenders to leave the state.

Obinabo also appreciated the efforts of the court in seeing that children are protected in the state, and promised to do everything within her powers to bring the third suspect, now at large, to book.