The owner of an orphanage identified as Shalom Child Foundation in Akwu Etche local government area, Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Janet Ekeh, has been sentenced to ten years imprisonment for buying and selling children.
Ekeh, popularly known as Mummy Shalom, was sentenced to the ten years imprisonment by a High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital presided by Justice Chinyere Ken-Eze, reports Daily Sun.
The Prosecuting Counsel, Ijeoma Mike -Ajanwachukwu who is the state Chief Counsel, said Janet Ekeh committed offence contrary to section 33(1) of Ebonyi State Child Rights and Related Matters Law 2010, hence she was convicted and sentenced to ten years imprisonment without option of fine.
“The case of Janet Ekeh, aka Mummy Shalom was in connection with Lucky Godwin who was in the habit of luring women with children or pregnant into Abakaliki, kill them, steals their children and sales them to the defendant Janet Ekeh in Etche Rivers State. Janet Ekeh will then sale the children.
”It was actually a case of murder by Lucky Godwin. He was in the habit of luring women with children or pregnant to lonely places to kill them and claim their children for sell to Janet Ekeh for onward businesses.
“The defendant when arrested by the Police claimed to be sick and was bleeding, Police admitted her to bail and insisted that a lawyer would stand as a surety. When she was admitted to bail, she went to Etche Rivers State and dismantled the Shalom Child Foundation, closed the home and went to a bush in Owerri Imo State built a tent inside the bush.
“Police in its gallantry was able to track her down, arrested and brought back to Abakaliki where she was arraigned, prosecuted and convicted.
“Then the babies were traced and recovered. Hence, the suit and she was charged for buying and selling of children which is contrary to section 33(1) of the Ebonyi State Child Rights and Related matters Law 2010. Some days ago, the court found her guilty as charged convicted and sentenced her to 10 years imprisonment without option of fine,” Aja-Nwachukwu said.
