Court Remands Women, 65, Over Alleged Child Laundering, Trafficking
A Federal High Court, has remanded a 65 year-old woman, Nwakuba Helen Chinyere, in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), over alleged conspiracy and trafficking and laundering in children.
Arraigning the defendant on Thursday, the prosecutor, Mr. Eliot Ijie Esq, informed the court that the defendant and others sometimes in 2024, unlawfully obtained, possessed and trafficked a year old boy (name withheld).
He also informed the court that the defendant and others allegedly unlawfully took possession of the boy in Lagos and trafficked him to Imo State.
The defendant was further alleged to have received or harboured the baby boy, when she knew that the boy baby stolen or bought.
The alleged offences according to the prosecutor, Ijie, are contrary to Sections 27(a), 21, Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, No. 4, 2015 and punishable under Section 21 of the same Act.
Her actions were  also said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 371, Criminal Code Act, CAP.77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. And Section 30, Child’s Rights Act, No. 26, 2003.
The defendant who had consented that the charge be read despite the absence of her counsel whom she said was bereaved, pleaded not guilty the charges.
Following her not guilty plea, the prosecutor prayed the court for a date for trial, while also urged the court to remand the defendant pending the determination of the charge.
However, Justice Ogazi, while adjourning the matter to August 19, for hearing of defendant’s bail application, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the NCoS’ custody.
Prior to the defendant’s arrraignment before the Federal High Court, she was formerly arraigned before a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s family court, alongside Ibezim Chioma ‘F’ 57, Chinasa Echelibe ‘F’ 52, Sunday.okputu ‘M’ 45, Ngozi Ifekwuna 52, Faith Sunday ‘F’ 21 and 45 years old Sunday Uchim ‘M’, sometimes in February 2025, in a charge numbered ID/5904/MB/2025.
The defendant and other listed above were charged before the court on a six-count charge of conspiracy, human trafficking and child laundering offences.
Specifically, all the defendants were alleged to have trafficked five children whose age ranges from one to three years.
The defendant, by a legal advice issues by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on April 10, 2025, with Reference number: LJP/MISC/2025/116/9, was however removed from the charge.
However, upon the taken over of the case file by the prosecutor, who applied to the DPP for the legal advice dated April 10, 2025, with Reference number: LJP/MISC/2025/116/9. The DPP in the reviewed legal advice dated January 21, 2026, with the reference number: LJP/MISC/116/24, she was recommended for prosecution on the alleged offences.
The reviewed legal advice reads in part: “I am directed to write to you in respect of your case file forwarded to this office by your letter with Reference Number CR/3514/ZN.2/X/LEGAL/RAIDER/VOL.4/02 dated 3 March, 2025.
“We also humbly refer to our Legal Advice dated 6th April, 2025 with reference number LJP/MISC/2025/116 wherein it was stated as follows: “..in view of the aforesaid, this Office shall prosecute the Suspects Pg B1 – Ibezim Chioma, Pg B2 -Sunday Ochim, Pg B3Sunday Okputu, Pg B4 ~ Sunday Faith, Pg 85 – Chinasa Echelibe and Page B6 – ifekwuna Ngozi Ebele for the Offences of Conspiracy to commit Felony, Human Trafficking and Child Stealing contrary to Sections 276, 277(1) and 411 of the Criminal Law Cap. C.17, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 while no offence is disclosed against Pg B7 – Nwakuba Helen and B8 – Bada Adeniyi and they should therefore be released if still in custody.
“Upon further review of the casefile, it was found expedient to charge Page B7 – Nwakuba Helen as a prima facie case is established against her. The Child said to have been sold was recovered from her custody, She also admitted in her statement that she has had the child since August 2024 with no legal papers from the appropriate.”