According the News Agency Of Nigeria (NAN), an Edo High Court on
Monday sentenced three people to death by hanging over the murder of a
three-year-old girl. The convicts, Betty Stephen, the stepmother, and the two
teachers- Johnson Ogbeide and Nancy Aiwuyor, committed the offence on February
24, 2009, at Erhiborhibo village, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo.
The judge, Justice Geraldine Imadegbelo, in her judgment said the prosecution
proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. She said the prosecution proved that
the stepmother gave the three-year-old girl to Ogbeide, who in turn handed over
the baby to his colleague, Aiwuyor, to be sold for ritual purposes.
Reviewing the evidence placed before her, the judge said the child was left in
the custody of her stepmother by her parents who went to farm on the day the
child was killed.
“When the victim’s
parents returned, they could not find the child, only for the stepmother to
confess that she stole the child to the two other convicts,” she said.
The judge also said that the prosecution established that the victim was sold
for N1.5 million, her nine fingers cut off, her hair shaved as directed for the
ritual.
According to judge, “seven years after the victim disappeared in the hands of
the convicts without being found, the court was safe to hold that the child was
dead.’ “The acts of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd accused persons which caused the death
of the deceased were unlawful.” Mrs. Imadegbelo said.
The court also
sentenced the convicts to 14-year jail term each for the offence of child
stealing.
