Owner of Asaba orphanage remanded over alleged kidnapping of 600 Kano children

‎A Kano State High Court has ordered the remand of Mr Ogugua Christopher, owner of Asaba Orphanage Home, over accusations of kidnapping and trafficking more than 600 children from Kano.
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‎Mr Ogugua Christopher, resident of Asaba, Delta State, faces a 15-count charge including conspiracy and kidnapping under Kano State Penal Code and Children and Young Person’s Law. He is being tried alongside Hauwa Abubakar and Nkechi Odlyne, who were absent from Tuesday’s arraignment.
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‎The defendants are alleged to have conspired between June 21, 2016, and December 20, 2021, kidnapping children from Kano and selling them in Delta State. The arraignment faced delays when co-defendants Abubakar and Odlyne failed to appear, prompting the prosecution to seek an adjournment.
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‎Kano Solicitor-General and prosecuting counsel Salisu Muhammad-Tahir told the court that despite efforts, the two defendants could not be brought before the court. He requested the remand of Christopher in a correctional centre.
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‎Defence counsel Gideon Uzo asked for his client to be remanded in the custody of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) instead. Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu ordered Christopher’s remand in a correctional centre and tasked NAPTIP with ensuring the two other defendants appear at the next hearing.
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‎The case was adjourned to October 27 for further mention and trial commencement.This case came after a December 2022 petition by Protection Against Abduction and Trafficking of Our Children (PATAMOC) to NAPTIP concerning over 600 children missing from Kano since 2010, with eight children rescued so far.
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‎The case will resume on October 27 as the court begins formally hearing the charges.