A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has sentenced a 42-year-old woman, Victoria Enwerem (Anosike), to 18 years’ imprisonment for stealing children.
Enwerem was arraigned in the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court on three counts of conspiracy to steal children, fraudulently enticing and habouring children, and forcefully isolating children from the lawful possession of their parents.
The offences are punishable under the Criminal Code, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State, 2017.
The five stolen children were between the ages of three and 10.
While delivering judgement in the matter, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe, found the defendant guilty of all three counts.
The sentences are to run concurrently without an option of fine.
