From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
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.
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She was found guilty of buying Oluomachi, aged 3years and Praise, 2, from one Lucky Godwin at Etche Rivers state in the month of November 2018 and selling them to some other persons.
Oluomachi ‘s mother was killed by Lucky Godwin in a hotel room located along Afikpo road in Abakaliki Ebonyi State capital in 2018 after luring her to the hotel, while Praise’s mother, Chisom Ugwu was stabbed severally by the man and left half dead in the bush behind Lord’s Chosen also in Abakaliki with her daughter stolen and sold to the Ekeh by Godwin.
The court found out Ekeh bought the two children and others from Godwin who was convicted for murder in 2022 by a High Court sitting in Abakaliki, presided by Justice Iheanacho Chima
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.
“One of the mothers of the two recovered children was lured to a hotel at Afikpo road in Abakaliki and killed by Lucky Godwin ,who later took the baby to Portharcourt ,sold to Janet Ekeh.
“The other woman Chisom Ugwu was stabbed severally when he (Lucky)thought she was dead ,he made away with Praise a two years old baby girl. The half dead woman was rescued the following morning and taken to hospital for treatment by owner of the farm where Lucky abandoned her. Fortunately, she was revived after 14 days in coma. Upon recovery she assisted the police in tracing and arresting Lucky at Enugu state.
“Upon arrest, Lucky confessed to have also been responsible for death of Oluomachi ‘s mother in a hotel room located along Afikpo road Abakaliki and took the police to his partner (Janet Ekeh) who buys the children from him for onward business. He further disclosed that he in agreement with his wife Onyinyechi earlier sold their biological son Emmanuel to the same Janet Ekeh.
“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.