Why Court Sentenced Stepmom & 2 Teachers To 14 Years Imprisonment In Edo state

An Edo State High Court sentenced three people, a stepmom, and two teachers to 14 years imprisonment on Monday.

Premium reports that Betty Stephen, who happens to be the stepmother of the three-year-old girl, and two teachers identified as Johnson Ogbeide and Nancy Aiwuyor, reportedly murdered the little girl for ritual purposed on February 24, 2009, at Erhiborhibo village in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.

In the court, the judge, Justice Geraldine Imadegbelo, in her judgment said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that 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.

The court judge who reviewed the evidence placed before her stated that 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 innocent child was sold for N1.5 million, her nine fingers cut off, her hair shaved as directed for the ritual.

“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.