Court hears details of how over 600 children allegedly stolen from Kano were found at orphanage in Asaba

The court thereafter ordered the remand of the owner of the Orphanage, Mr Ogugua Christopher, at a correctional centre over  alleged stealing and trafficking of the children.

The defendant, who lives in Asaba, is being tried alongside two others: Hauwa Abubakar and Nkechi Odlyne, on a 15-count charge of  conspiracy and kidnapping, contrary to sections 97, 273 of Kano State Penal Code and section 32(5) of the Children and Young Person’s Law of Kano State.

The  court was told that the defendants allegedly conspired between June 21, 2016 and December.20, 2021, stole many Kano children and sold them in Delta State.

When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, the prosecution counsel, Mr Salisu Muhammad-Tahir, who is also the Kano State Solicitor-General, informed the court that the first and second defendants, Abubakar and Odlyne, were absent.

“My Lord, we have tried our possible best to ensure their appearance before this court. We sincerely tender our apology,” Muhammad-Tahir said.

He urged the court to adjourn the case to ensure the presence of the other defendants on the next hearing date, while requesting the remand of Christopher in a correctional centre.

The Defence Counsel, Mr Gideon Uzo, pleaded with the court to remand his client in the custody of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) instead.

Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu ordered the remand of Christopher in a correctional centre and directed NAPTIP to ensure the production of the two other defendants at the next sitting.

She adjourned the matter till October 27 for further mention and commencement of trial.

The case followed a petition filed in December 2022 by the Protection Against Abduction and Trafficking of Our Children (PATAMOC) to NAPTIP, over the disappearance of more than 600 children from Kano since 2010.