A Kano state High Court has convicted and sentenced six persons to various correctional service terms for conspiring, concealment abatement, abducting and kidnapping of many children under 10 from the custody of their biological parents and subsequently sold them in Onisha, Anambra state.
It was gathered that the convicted persons include: Mercy Paul, Ebere Ogbono, Emmanuel Igwe, Loise Duru, Monica Oracha and Chinelo Ifedigwe.It was also revealed that the mastermind of the offences, Mr. Paul, was earlier sentenced to 104 years imprisonment in a summary trial after pleading guilty to 38 count charges.
The court also ordered that the terms run consecutively without the option of a fine. The remaining six accused persons were tried separately after denying the offences.
In her judgment, Justice Zuwaira Yusuf found the six persons liable for the offences as charged by the Kano State Ministry of Justice.
She sentenced Mercy Paul to 55 years imprisonment, Ebere Ogbono to 41 years, Emmanuel Igwe to 9 years, Loise Duru to 6 years, Monica Oracha to 5 years, and Chinelo Ifedigwe to 9 years. Also the court ordered that all the terms run consecutively without the option of a fine.
According to the prosecution, the convicts committed the offences between November and December 2014 and 2015.
