Ondo Baby Factory: Lawyer Molests Journalists During Arraignment Of 10 Suspects

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 Lawyer Molests Journalists During Arraignment Of 10 Suspects

By SaharaReporters, New York
A mild drama ensued on Thursday between journalists and some members of the bar at the resumed sitting and hearing of the 10 suspects arraigned for the illegal operation of a baby factory at Ilu-titun in Okitipupa Local Government area of Ondo State.



At the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, venue of the sitting, a private lawyer — believed to be one of the counsels to the accused persons — barred journalists from executing their constitutional duty of covering the exit of the suspects immediately after the court proceedings.

There was a hot argument between the journalists — mostly of Lagos-based television and radio stations, but also including independent newspapers and magazines — who had besieged the court to report the running story and the lawyer, who threatened to smash their cameras and other recording gadgets.

Only the timely intervention of staff of the court and other lawyers saved the innocent journalists from further harassment.

During the hearing, counsel to the 10 accused suspects, Barrister Dapo Agbede pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail because they are innocent of the charges leveled against them.

The 10 suspects, led by kingpin and suspected owner of the illegal baby factory, Mrs Happiness Ogundeji, 45, pleaded not guilty to the 10 charges read by the clerk of the court.

In his ruling, presiding judge, Justice Isaq Sani turned down the bail application of the counsel to the accused and ordered him to formalize the oral application by writing to the effect. He thereafter adjourned the case till Monday February 24th  2014.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the proceedings, counsel to the 10 suspects, Barr. Dapo Agbede said his clients would apply for bail at the next sitting.

The 10 suspects were arraigned on a 10-count charge bothering on illegal operation of baby factory and adoption of underage children.

Those nabbed by the anti-trafficking detectives of the command are five pregnant women, five nursing mothers, five babies (two of whom are less than a month old) and eight men whose duty it was to impregnate the women.

Acting on a tip-off from its headquarters in Abuja on 29th January 2014, the anti-human trafficking unit of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Ondo State Command discovered a baby factory at Ilu-titun in Okitipupa Local Government area of Ondo State and immediately arrested the suspects.

SaharaReporters had reported the attempt of the kingpin to jump over the fence with a ladder already stationed at the exotic compound where the illegal baby factory as running. Items discovered at the factory were eight luxury cars, foodstuff, items of babies and others.

After parading the suspects before journalists at the Alagbaka headquarters of the command in Akure, officials of the Ondo NIS handed them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other related matters (NAPTIP), who then initiated a court process against them.