An Anambra State Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Offences Court sitting in Awka has remanded a 42-year-old man, Sunday Nome, at the Awka Correctional Centre over the alleged abduction and sale of two young boys.

Nome pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, child stealing, illegal dealing in children and the sale of children.

Chief Magistrate U.E. Onochie ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody and adjourned the case until July 29 for hearing.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Chinyere Okechukwu, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offences between February 14 and 15 at Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, in collaboration with one Ngozi Ali, who is currently at large.

According to the prosecution, Nome and the fleeing suspect allegedly forcefully took a two-year-old boy from his mother, Maryam Tajudeen, against her will. The prosecutor further alleged that the defendant also abducted a four-year-old boy from his father, Sunday Ogadi, thereby separating both children from their families.

Okechukwu told the court that the defendant allegedly sold the two-year-old boy for ₦1.6 million and was attempting to sell the four-year-old child before he was arrested.

She said the alleged offences contravene Section 495(a) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Anambra State, 1991 (as amended), as well as Sections 31(1), 32(c), 33(1) and 34 of the Anambra State Child Rights Law, 2004, and Section 15(1) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Law of Anambra State, 2017.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant pending the hearing of the case, a request the court granted. (Nigerian Tribune)