The Imo State Police Command
on Friday brought a medical
doctor, James Ezuma and his
wife, Chioma, before an Owerri
Magistrates’ Court for allegedly
operating an illegal home for
pregnant women.
Ezuma, 67, is facing an 18-
count charge for allegedly
keeping 16 pregnant girls in an
illegal home with the intent to
sell their babies after delivery to
prospective buyers.
*Pregnant girls allegedly found
in an orphanage…
The accused was arrested on
Nov. 24 in Owerri for allegedly
abducting a day-old baby
delivered by one Chinaza
Nnachi, 19, in the premises of
the home owned by the doctor.
The prosecution counsel, Mr
Julius Onyemucheya, said the
accused committed an offence
punishable under the
Trafficking in Persons
(Prohibition) Law Enforcement
and Administration Act, Laws of
the Federation of Nigeria, 2004
as applicable in Imo.
The counsel also said the
accused murdered a day-old
baby for rituals by unknown
persons and thereby committed
an offence punishable by law.
Ezuma was also charged with
being in possession of 10
unregistered exotic cars
suspected to have been stolen
or unlawfully obtained.
His wife, Chioma, was also
arraigned with a two count
charge of negligence and
impersonation.
According to the charge,
Chioma was allelged to have
administered drugs on Nnachi
thereby endangering her life
because she was not qualified
to administer drugs.
The counsel said the woman
was not registered to practice
as a nurse or midwife and
should not have aided the
delivery of the pregnant
teenagers.
The defence counsel, Mr Fidelis
Eziku, however, pleaded for bail
for the accused persons.
The Magistrate, Mrs Comfort
Isiguzo, remanded the first
accused in prison custody after
he pleaded not guilty to the
charges, while the second
accused was granted bail in the
sum of N200,000 with one
surety in like sum.
The matter was adjourned to
Jan. 13, 2014 for hearing.
(NAN)
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