The owner of an orphanage home identified as Shalom Child Foundation in Akwu Etche Local Government Area of Port-Harcourt Rivers State, Janet Eke has bagged ten years imprisonment for buying and selling children.
Janet Eke in a suit marked HAB/FC 40c/2019 was found guilty of the offence and sentenced by a Family Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
The court, presided over by Justice Chinyere Ken- Ezeh found Eke guilty of buying a 3-year-old baby, Oluomachi and Praise, aged 2, from one Lucky Godwin at Etche Rivers State in November 2018 and selling them to some other persons.
Oluomachi’s mother was allegedly killed by Lucky Godwin in the room of one of the hotels located along Afikpo road in Abakaliki Ebonyi State capital in 2018.
Praise’s mother, Chisom Ugwu, was stabbed severally by Lucky Godwin and left half dead in the bush behind Lord’s Chosen church off Afikpo road in Abakaliki. The victim’s daughter was also taken from her and sold to Eke.
The court found out that Eke bought the two children and others from Godwin who had been convicted for murder in 2020 by Justice Iheanacho Chima of an Abakaliki High Court.
The prosecuting counsel, a chief state counsel, Ijeoma Mike -Ajanwachukwu said Eke committed the offence contrary to section 33(1) of the Ebonyi State Child Rights and Related Matters Law 2010, hence she was convicted and sentenced to ten years imprisonment without option of fine.
