Police arrest hawker for kidnapping a toddler

Firsclass newsline learnt that a trader, Ufuoma Adavwetvwe, has been
brought before an Apapa Magistrate's Court after allegedly being
caught with a 20-month-old baby, Ifeanyi Okwedi.
Okwedi was said to be playing in a compound on Fatai Aremu Street in
the Ajegunle area of Lagos when 35-year old Adavwetvwe abducted him.
Firstclass newsline learnt that Adavwetvwe had beckoned on the
toddler, but he reportedly declined and was scurrying to meet his
parents, who were said to be inside the house, when the trader
accosted him.
The Delta-born suspect, who is also a mechanic, had almost escaped
with Okwedi when a resident of the area, who reportedly knew the
toddler and his parents, challenged him. Firstclass newsline learnt
that Adavwetvwe had identified himself as Okwedi's father to the
resident, who alerted other neighbours to the incident which happened
around 12pm on May 17.
Firstclass newsline gathered that an angry mob, after rescuing the
child, descended on the suspect and beat him up. It was learnt that he
was about to be lynched when cops from the Ajegunle Police Station
intervened.
He reportedly told the police that he had wanted to sell the baby to
one Wale in the Marina area of the state.
He said, "I am a trader. I live on Agbeino Street, Olodi-Apapa. The
boy did not answer me when I waved to him. I chased and carried him
while he was trying to run inside. I was going to sell the baby Wale
in Marina."
Okwedi's father, James, said a youth barged into his room to notify
him of the incident.
He said, "After feeding my son on the fateful day, I left him outside
to play with other children. Her mother was cooking in the kitchen.
Suddenly, a man rushed in and told me that he saw my child with a
stranger. I did not believe until I got to the street and saw a crowd
around the suspect and my child."
Adavwetvwe was arraigned before the court, as a police prosecutor, ASP
Olusoji Ojaokomo, preferred one count of abduction against him.
The charge read, "That you, Ufuoma Adavwetvwe, on May 17, 2015, at
about 12pm on Fatai Aremu Street, Ajegunle, in the Apapa Magisterial
District, did steal a year and eight months old child, Ifeanyi Okwedi,
and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under
Section 275 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011."
Adavwetvwe pleaded not guilty.
His counsel urged the presiding magistrate, Mr. P. A. Adekomaya, to
grant him bail in liberal term.
He was subsequently admitted to bail in the sum of N50,000 with one
surety in like sum.
Adekomaya adjourned the case till June 17, 2015.
Firstclassnewsline.net