The parish priest at Our Lady of Fatima Woliwo, Onitsha, in Anambra State, Rev. Father Chike Ejiofor and others were on Thursday paraded by the Osun State Police Command for child stealing.
The Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, led other officers at the parade of the suspects at the Police Headquarters in Osogbo.
The CP said the baby was sold for N800,000, allegedly facilitated by Rev. Father Chike Ejiofor.
The suspects stole the baby and drugged him so that he would not scream when they were taking him out of Osun State, he added.
The principal suspect, Joy Esu, who stole 18-month-old baby boy, Abdulahi Azeez, in Osogbo, claimed she didn’t receive any payment for all the six children she abducted and handed over to her boyfriend, saying she believes he charmed her commit the crimes.
The priest was accused of involvement in the stealing of of the boy.
Joy Esu said she approached Abdulahi’s mother at her shop and pretended she wanted to learn tailoring.The woman accepted.
But Joy absconded with the woman’s baby on February 18 as she went to the market.
According to Joy, she handed the baby to her boyfriend, Sidney Onwuka, who reportedly sold him to Maxwell Agu, who claimed he operates a government-approved orphanage at Orlu in Imo State.
Joy said, “He (Onwuka) always sent me to go and do anything and I would go without hesitation.
“I even sold my daughter to him, but he didn’t give me ordinary N5.”
Onwuka revealed that he had sold six babies, including his own child, to Agu, and that Agu paid him N200,000 for his own child.
Rev. Father Chike Ejiofor told journalists that he got involved when Elizabeth, a member of the parish, contacted him to help her when she wanted to adopt a male child.
The priest claimed he had no evil intention when he contacted the orphanage owner, Agu, saying his motive was to help the desperate woman.
He said, “This woman, Elizabeth, met me after Adoration and said she wanted to adopt a male child.
“I contacted Maxwell (Agu) because I know that he has an orphanage home and he brought a form of adoption.
“He later brought the baby to our parish, together with Joy. I called Elizabeth and she said she liked the baby boy.
“The woman handed N750,000 to me and I gave it to Maxwell.
“He (Maxwell Agu) said she must pay additional N50,000 and I asked what the money was meant for. He said it was for the processing of adoption papers and certificate.
“I called him later after the payment had been made, but Maxwell said the certificate was not ready.
“I wanted to help the lady and that was what I was after, because people came to me for help and I helped them.
“I am in shock now. This is my 32nd year in the ministry, but look at how I crashed.
“I asked Maxwell why he did this to me. My hands, legs and entire body are in the trap now. How do I extricate myself from the trap?
“I only wanted to assist the woman; I had no other intention. That is all I know about the whole thing.”
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