Metro
71-yr-old pastor, wife buy baby for N500, 000
The police in Abia State have arrested a 71-year-old pastor and his wife for illegally adopting an 11-month-old baby girl.
The baby was alleged to have been bought for N500, 000 from a child trafficker simply known as Ekwutosi.
The pastor identified as Chima Egbochiogum and wife Ugo, were paraded by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Joshak Habila, in Umuahia with other suspects who were also involved in the incident.
Habila said the pastor and his wife were arrested after the arrest of Ekwutosi, a notorious child trafficker last month who made useful confessions.
Ekwutosi, was said to have eloped with the baby girl belonging to a 21- year -old pregnant mother, who he had pretended to assist.
The woman, according to police, left her baby in the custody of Ekwutosi to buy food but by the time she returned, the child trafficker had disappeared with her baby.
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The suspect was later intercepted by the police at Owerrinta when he was allegedly trafficking pregnant girls to Port Harcourt.
According to Habila, Ekwutosi confessed to his criminal activities including the stealing of the 11- month old baby during interrogations.
His confession led to the arrest of the pastor and his wife who adopted the stolen baby girl.
The 71- year old pastor was said to have retired from a Pentecostal church in Abriba in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.
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Ifenkili
September 5, 2015 at 8:25 am
when there are a numbe of legal ways to get a baby? at 71 you should have small sense na. eh pastor? hian.
Christopher Kiwamu
September 5, 2015 at 9:22 pm
Ripples, you should have allowed us a peep into the Pastor’s own narrative. Isn’t that what balanced journalism is all about? One side never tells a complete story.
Don Lucassi
September 9, 2015 at 5:23 pm
I think that is too critical of ripples na. I read this site a lot myself and its not always you have to go into investigative journalism to find out all sides. This is a story that is out there and its been reported as it is. It would be nice to hear this pastor’s view, but its not wrong that it was reported this way. My two cents.