A 25-year old housewife, Fatima Ibrahim has reportedly confessed to the police that she stole a day-old baby in Danja town, Katsina state even as the judge of the Katsina Chief Magistrates’ Court handling the case considered it serious.
Mrs. Fatima Ibrahim, who was said to have committed that offence at about 5.00 a.m. on March 10 this year was reported to have confessed when interrogated by the police, to have stolen the baby girl.
The prosecuting police, Inspector Hashimu Musa, told the court that the case was reported to the Central Police Station by one Malam Nuhu Umar of Funtua town, adding that the accused person stole the baby at the comprehensive Health Centre, Funtua at the time the staff on duty had gone to say their morning prayers.
The prosecutor alleged that the accused went away with the baby under the pretence of assisting the nursing mother even as she dropped her hospital card, bearing Fatima Ibrahim when was leaving the hospital, adding that during investigation, the card left by the accused was used to trace her and rescue the baby from her.
The prosecutor said that the accused committed an offence, contrary to Section 274 of the Penal Code.
The Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Nafisa Bagiwa, said that the court would not take the plea of the accused, as her case was very serious even as she ordered the police to continue with the investigation, while the case file should be duplicated and forwarded to the State Ministry of Justice for advice.
She adjourned the case to May 7 for continuation of the trial. [myad]
