The Lagos State police Command has arrested a housemaid Ruth Okezie, for absconding with her boss’s child in Shomolu, Lagos.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that a picture of the housemaid went viral over the weekend, showing her fleeing with her boss’s baby around 1 am and 2 am.
At the time of her arrest, the maid, Ruth Okezie, claimed to have sold the baby for N800,000.
In an official response by the Public Relations Officer of the state command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, on X page, stated, “Due to intense manhunt and pressure from the police, the buyer abandoned the baby in Alade Market, Shomolu, in the early hours of today. The baby was promptly rescued by the police.”
“The baby has since been handed over to her parents after they positively identified her.
“Efforts are still on to apprehend the buyer who is currently on the run.”
Upon calling the relative of the baby, who confirmed that the baby had been rescued in good health.
In a related development the Minna Senior Magistrate Court number five has sentenced a thirty-five-year-old man, Haruna Mohammed to fifteen years imprison for raping a minor in Niger state.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the convict was until his arrest a house help to the parents of the child for the past fifteen years and had been taken as a member of the family and so much trusted.
The convict was arraigned on two count charges before the Court in 2022 charged with Criminal intimidation and unlawful sexual intercourse with a child.
Police Prosecutor Inspector Emmanuel Ogiri had told the Court that the charges were punishable under 26 (2), of the child rights law of Niger State 2022 and 397 of the penal code law.
During his trial, the police Prosecutor called five witnesses which included a Medical Doctor and the medical report revealed the penetration into the private part of the victim by the convict.
The medical Doctor had testified under cross-examination by the Defense Counsel, Barrister Mohammed Hamza.
The Presiding Senior Magistrate, Hajiya Sahura Abdulkarim in her judgement asserted that the Prosecutor was able to establish and had proved the case of unlawful sexual intercourse against the convict but that he failed to prove the case of intimidation against the convict.
“The Prosecutor has established and proved the case of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and punishable under section 26 (2) of the child rights law of Niger State 2022 but has failed to prove the case of criminal investigation and I so hold,” she asserted.
She therefore discharged him on the offense of intimidation.
The Senior Magistrate then Convicted and sentenced him to fifteen years in the Correctional Center without an option of fine adding that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others.
The convict had earlier pleaded for leniency of the Court.