- The Asaba Orphanage Home owner was accused of kidnapping and trafficking children from Kano to Delta State between 2016 and 2021.
- NAPTIP rescued eight children after a petition exposed the disappearance of more than 600 Kano children since 2010.
- The prosecution, led by Kano Solicitor-General Salisu Muhammad-Tahir, requested the remand of the prime suspect as co-defendants failed to appear in court.
- Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu adjourned the case to October 27, ordering NAPTIP to ensure the attendance of the other suspects.
The Kano State High Court on Tuesday ordered the immediate remand of the Asaba Orphanage Home owner, Mr. Ogugua Christopher, in a correctional centre over allegations of child trafficking and kidnapping involving several children abducted from Kano State.
Reports indicate that Christopher had earlier surrendered himself to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) after eight missing children were rescued during investigations.
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The suspect, who resides in Asaba, Delta State, is standing trial alongside two others: Hauwa Abubakar and Nkechi Odlyne on a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, and trafficking. The offences contravene Sections 97 and 273 of the Kano State Penal Code as well as Section 32(5) of the Children and Young Person’s Law of the state.
According to the prosecution, the three defendants allegedly conspired between June 2016 and December 2021 to kidnap children from various parts of Kano and sell them in Delta State.
During the hearing, the prosecution counsel and Kano State Solicitor-General, Mr. Salisu Muhammad-Tahir, informed the court that two of the defendants: Abubakar and Odlyne were absent. He apologized for their absence and requested that Christopher be remanded while efforts are made to produce the others at the next sitting.
However, the defence counsel, Mr. Gideon Uzo, appealed to the court to remand his client in NAPTIP custody instead of a correctional centre.
Presiding Judge, Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu, rejected the plea and ordered that Christopher be kept in a correctional facility. She further directed NAPTIP to ensure the appearance of the remaining defendants in the next court session.
The matter was adjourned until October 27 for further mention and commencement of trial.
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This case followed a petition filed in December 2022 by the Protection Against Abduction and Trafficking of Our Children (PATAMOC), which alerted NAPTIP about the disappearance of over 600 children from Kano since 2010, with only eight successfully rescued so far.
The revelation has continued to spark outrage across the country, with many Nigerians calling for justice for the victims and stricter laws against child trafficking.
