Joy Olaka-Wogu, 22-years-old has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment with hard labour, by a Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt, for Conspiracy, Stealing and Child Trafficking offence.
Chief Magistrate Amaka Amanze in her ruling, sentenced the accused four years on each of the three count-charge, which will run concurrently.
Chief Magistrate Amanze ruled that despite the accused spending over two years in prison during the trial, the additional jail term was still necessary following the gravity of the offence committed, which will serve as a deterrent to others who wish to engage in such crime.
The Chief Magistrate ruled further that Joy Olaka-Wogu despite being young appears to be used to stealing other people’s babies, after acquiring a good skill of hairdressing that would have fetched her a better life.
In an interview with our correspondent, Counsel to the accused, Paul Ephraim, said they are okay with the court’s decision, as his client is now repentant and remorseful of her actions after pleading guilty before the court.
“The court’s decision is based on the incessant stealing of children in the society, it’s becoming a panacea and if the court does not come hard, it will not serve as a deterrent to others.
“In this case, the young lady pleaded guilty and there was an admission of remorse in her actions, she was deeply repentant by the mere fact she confessed and restituted. The judgement has been given which will be running concurrently, four years each for the three counts, we are hopeful that in less than two years she will regain her freedom”
Also, Counsel representing International Federation of Women Lawyers FIDA, Esther Achor-Korienta, expressed satisfaction with the judgement, while urging people to engage in legal adoption of children rather than cut corners.
“We are satisfied with the judgement, we hope and believe this will serve as a deterrent to child Traffickers because trafficking is on the increase. We are looking for a way to mitigate and stop people from stealing other people’s child.
“If people want children, they can do legal adoption, engaging in crime to get a child is not the best option and whoever is caught will not go unpunished”
Recall that Joy Olaka-Wogu was said to have successfully sold a child for thirty thousand naira, before being caught in the act of stealing a set of twin to sell
