6 pregnant teenagers charged with trading in babies
(Nigeria) Six pregnant teenagers were on Monday arraigned in an
Umuahia Magistrate Court, Abia State on a two-count-charge of conspiracy to
commit felony, buying and selling newly-born babies.
Four of the teenagers, Blessing David, Chikodi Samuel, Mercy
Dickson and Miracle Ifeanyi, appeared in
court while Goodluck Erondu and Happiness Chinemerem were absent.
The prosecutor, Insp. Agwu Okoronkwo, told the court that
the fifth and sixth accused were not in court as they had given birth while in
custody.
Okoronkwo applied that the names of the two be deleted from
the charge pending the time that they
would be fit to stand trial.
The teenagers and one Isaac Okwuonu, a medical doctor, now
at large, were said to have, between July and September, at Isaac Okwuonu
Memorial Hospital, Ogbor Hill, Aba, conspired to commit felony and trade in
newly-born babies.
When the charges were read to the accused, they pleaded not
guilty to the two-count charge.
Mr Ogbonnaya
Nwannunu, the counsel for David, applied that she be granted bail since the offence was bailable.
Nwannunu told the court that his client was a victim of
circumstance, who was tricked into the business by her aunt.
Ruling on the bail application, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs
Elizabeth Kalu, granted bail to the four accused in the sum of N80, 000 each.
She also granted the application of the prosecuting counsel
that the two who did not appear in court be deleted till they were fit to stand
trial.
The matter was adjourned to November 27 for hearing.
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