A 25-year-old housewife, Fatima Ibrahim, has been arraigned in a Katsina Chief Magistrates’ Court for purportedly kidnapping a day-old baby.
Ibrahim, a resident of Danja town in Katsina State, committed the crime at about 5.0 am on March 10.
According to Insp. Hashimu Musa while testifying before the court, the case was reported to the Central Police Station, by one Malam Nuhu Umar of Funtua town.
He said the plaintiff informed the police that the housewife kidnapped the day-old baby at about 5.00am.
Musa said the crime was committed at the comprehensive Health Centre, Funtua, while the staff on duty went for their morning prayers.
The prosecutor further stressed that the suspect under the pretext of assisting the mothers made away with the baby.
He added that the suspect in the process of sneaking out of the hospital dropped her hospital card bearing Fatima Ibrahim.
Musa said the card was used in tracing the accused to her residence where the baby was rescued.
“When interrogated by the police, the accused confessed to have abducted the baby girl.
“The case was transferred from Funtua Division to the State Criminal Investigation Department, for further investigation,’’ he said.
He noted that the offence committed was contrary to Section 274 of the Penal Code.
The Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Nafisa Bagiwa, however refused to take the plea of the accused, as her case was a serious one.
Bagiwa consequently ordered the police to further their investigation, adding that the case file be duplicated and sent to the State Ministry of Justice, for advice.
The case was however adjourned by Bagiwa till May 7, for continued trial.
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