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49-year-old farmer, Gabriel Ajor has been arraigned before a Lokoja Chief
Magistrate’s Court for allegedly abducting and selling seven children including
his two sons and an eight-year-old baby for N400,000. Ajor was alleged to have
abducted and sold the children under the pretext of sending them to schools in
Owerri and United States of Americal. On arraignment at the Lokoja Chief
Magistrate’s Court II on Monday, the accused was said to have tricked one
Kenneth Omale and John Attah, parents of five of the children, into believing
he meant well. According to the prosecuting police officer, Cornet Ayabatu
(ASP), the accused of Nwajala in Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi, between
March and June, criminally conspired with others now at large to commit the offence.
Ayabatu said that the matter was reported on July 8, by Kenneth Omale of
Nwajala at the police area command office, Idah and Criminal Investigation and
Intelligence Department, Lokoja. He said the children, Goodway Kenneth, 5;
Kindness Kenneth, 3; Shedrack John, 6; Goodday John, 6; Confidence Ojonuba, 8
months old; Gift Gabriel, 6 and Destiny Gabriel, 3, all male, were allegedly
taken to an undisclosed destination that could not be traced. Ayabatu said
police investigation led to the arrest of Ajor who confessed that he was paid
N400,000 for the seven children by one Malik in Owerri, Imo State. He was
charged with criminal conspiracy and kidnapping contrary to sections 97(1) of
the Penal Code and Section 4(1), punishable under section 4(3)(a) of Kogi State
Kidnapping and other Related Offences (Prohibition) Law 2015. The prosecutor
however, told the court that investigation into the matter was in progress and
asked for adjournment to enable the police address some grey areas. In his
ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Alhassan Husaini said that he was inclined to put
on hold all ancillary applications connected to the case till the next sitting
in view of the weighty and serious nature of the allegations. Husaini therefore
ordered that the accused be remanded at the state CID detention facility in
Lokoja and adjourned to August 24 for further mention
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