Woman in court for alleged stealing of 11 month old baby; 15-year-old allegedly rapes 18-year-old girl, remanded
A 24-year-old unemployed woman, Ugochi Ugbawu, who allegedly stole an 11-month-old boy, has been brought before a Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court in Awka, Anambra State.
The suspect, who is from Ebonyi State, was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, child stealing and forceful separation of the baby from his family.
In another development, the Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Offences Court in Awka, remanded a 15-year-old boy, Onyebuchi Godwin who allegedly raped an 18-year-old girl.
The defendant is facing a one-count charge of rape.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Chinyere Okechukwu, the accused committed the offence on March 10, 2025 at Agbani in Umuawulu community, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra.
In the case involving Ugochi Ugbawu, the prosecutor, Insp. Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the defendant and others now at large allegedly committed the offences of conspiracy, child stealing and forceful separation of the baby from his family on Jan. 16, at Okpoko in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra.
“That you Ugochi Ugbawu and others now at large conspired to fraudulently steal an 11-month-old baby boy and forcefully separated him from his family,” the Prosecutor said.
Okechukwu said further that the offences contravened Sections 495(a) and 321of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol. II Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991, as amended and Section 15(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2017.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. U.E. Onochie granted her bail in the sum of N3 million with a surety in like sum and adjourned the case until May 28, for hearing.
In the rape case, the complainant, the mother of the 18-year-old girl, stated that she sent her daughter to the farm to deliver food to the workers and to gather some firewood from the bush on her way home.
“The defendant encountered her in the bush while she was collecting firewood, overpowered her, tore her clothing, and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.
“After medical examination and enquiry at the Ntasi Sexual Assault Referral Centre at General Hospital Enugu-Ukwu, a medical practitioner confirmed that the girl had been raped,” she said.
The Prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 130(2) (a) (b) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022 and prayed the court to remand the suspect at a Correctional facility.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge, asserting that the act was consensual.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. U.E. Onochie ordered that the accused be remanded at the Awka Correctional facility pending advice by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions(DPP) and adjourned the case until May 7, for report of compliance.
