Princewill Njoku, a Lagos-based
banker, has accused his father-in-law, Chief Godwin Osochukwu, of
abducting his son, Kayomikun, adding that the 69-year-old community
leader renamed his child.
banker, has accused his father-in-law, Chief Godwin Osochukwu, of
abducting his son, Kayomikun, adding that the 69-year-old community
leader renamed his child.
According to Punch Metro, Princewill noted that petitions sent to
the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos State Police
Command, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
and other related matters, and the National Human Rights Commission, had
not received attention.
the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos State Police
Command, the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
and other related matters, and the National Human Rights Commission, had
not received attention.
However, Osochukwu, explained that he did not abduct the child,
saying the 39-year-old did not marry his daughter in accordance with
tradition.
saying the 39-year-old did not marry his daughter in accordance with
tradition.
He noted that he changed the child’s name from Kayomikun, which is
Yoruba name, because the two families had no ancestral link to Yoruba.
Yoruba name, because the two families had no ancestral link to Yoruba.
Princewill, who hails from Umuokwaraku Umudiagba Abajah, in the
Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, however, told Punch Metro
that he lawfully married his late wife, Favour Njoku.
Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo State, however, told Punch Metro
that he lawfully married his late wife, Favour Njoku.
He said, “I met my wife Favour, sometime in June 2014 and by
May 31, 2015, we had our traditional marriage in her father’s compound
in Umuokwara Umucheke Okwe in the Onuimo council area.
May 31, 2015, we had our traditional marriage in her father’s compound
in Umuokwara Umucheke Okwe in the Onuimo council area.
“I went to the village with my people and performed all the traditional rites to marry my wife in the presence of her people.
“On September 2, 2015, my wife was admitted to a maternal and
child centre at FESTAC Town for bed rest. But when we got there, she was
diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia and we were advised by a doctor
that she would have to deliver through a caesarean section that night.
child centre at FESTAC Town for bed rest. But when we got there, she was
diagnosed with severe pre-eclampsia and we were advised by a doctor
that she would have to deliver through a caesarean section that night.
“The pregnancy was only seven months old then. I called her
father and he spoke with the doctor and gave the go ahead with the
operation. I also called my wife’s elder brothers to notify them.”
father and he spoke with the doctor and gave the go ahead with the
operation. I also called my wife’s elder brothers to notify them.”
He said after signing the operation consent form in the presence of
another relative, his wife was delivered of a baby boy, who was named
Kayomikun, Chimdinso, Destiny, Sunday, Patrick, Njoku.
another relative, his wife was delivered of a baby boy, who was named
Kayomikun, Chimdinso, Destiny, Sunday, Patrick, Njoku.
However, the wife died the following day.
He said an autopsy report showed that Favour died from the medical problem earlier diagnosed by the hospital.
Princewill said he left the baby in the care of the maternal grandmother.
However, on December 27, 2015, he said when he went to pick the
child for a thanksgiving service at his church, his father-in-law
refused to release the child.
child for a thanksgiving service at his church, his father-in-law
refused to release the child.
“On December 30, my father in-law and some other relatives
pushed my sister, Charity Njoku, out of their house and took away my son
from my sister staying with my mother-in-law,” he added.
pushed my sister, Charity Njoku, out of their house and took away my son
from my sister staying with my mother-in-law,” he added.
Punch Metro learnt that on January 16, 2016, Osochukwu reported a
case against Princewill at the Agboju Police Station, Lagos State,
alleging that he never married his late daughter.
case against Princewill at the Agboju Police Station, Lagos State,
alleging that he never married his late daughter.
Princewill was subsequently arrested and arraigned in an Apapa
Magistrate’s Court, where the banker allegedly discovered that his
father-in-law had changed his son’s name from Kayomikun, Chimdinso,
Destiny, Sunday, Patrick, Njoku, to Samuel, Ndidi, Destiny, Osochukwu.
Magistrate’s Court, where the banker allegedly discovered that his
father-in-law had changed his son’s name from Kayomikun, Chimdinso,
Destiny, Sunday, Patrick, Njoku, to Samuel, Ndidi, Destiny, Osochukwu.
Osochukwu allegedly sought custody of the baby.
The magistrate was said to have asked that the child be brought to
court, which the father-in-law agreed to, before later asking for
out-of-court settlement.
court, which the father-in-law agreed to, before later asking for
out-of-court settlement.
The magistrate reportedly ordered that the baby should be taken to a
welfare centre every Monday in order to get acquainted with the father.
welfare centre every Monday in order to get acquainted with the father.
“The relatives brought my son two times and disappeared.
Instead of my father in-law to organise the peace meeting he requested,
he went to the police at Zone 9 and lied against me.
Instead of my father in-law to organise the peace meeting he requested,
he went to the police at Zone 9 and lied against me.
“I reported the incident to the magistrate in Lagos, who
demanded that he should produce my son since May 2016, but he refused.
It was at this instance that the magistrate issued a bench warrant on
him.
demanded that he should produce my son since May 2016, but he refused.
It was at this instance that the magistrate issued a bench warrant on
him.
“The magistrate, fearing for the safety of my son, requested
that we officially report a case of kidnap and abduction to the
Commissioner of Police at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, which
we did. But the officers at X-Squad, Ikeja, have refused to arrest the
man,” he said.
that we officially report a case of kidnap and abduction to the
Commissioner of Police at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, which
we did. But the officers at X-Squad, Ikeja, have refused to arrest the
man,” he said.
Osochukwu, however, denied abducting the child, saying Princewill was lying.
He said, “He has not married my daughter. In Igboland, if you
don’t marry someone completely when he is alive, you will complete it
when the person dies. So, he should do the right thing.
don’t marry someone completely when he is alive, you will complete it
when the person dies. So, he should do the right thing.
“He has not paid the dowry or completed the traditional
marriage. We are both from Imo State, but he has refused to allow
elders to mediate.
marriage. We are both from Imo State, but he has refused to allow
elders to mediate.
“He is saying I kidnapped the child. How? The law must take its
course traditionally. The police have told him there is nothing like
kidnapping in this case. This is a child that was brought out from my
daughter’s womb and the child was born at seven months. He has been in
my care ever since and we have been giving him all kinds of medication
to ensure that he survives.”
course traditionally. The police have told him there is nothing like
kidnapping in this case. This is a child that was brought out from my
daughter’s womb and the child was born at seven months. He has been in
my care ever since and we have been giving him all kinds of medication
to ensure that he survives.”
Osochukwu, who confirmed that he had reported the case at the Zone 9
Police Command, said he withdrew the case he instituted against
Princewill at the Lagos Magistrate’s Court after a disagreement with the
magistrate.
Police Command, said he withdrew the case he instituted against
Princewill at the Lagos Magistrate’s Court after a disagreement with the
magistrate.
The 69-year-old, who claimed not to be aware when his daughter was
operated upon, said he had been taking the child to the court until he
was ordered to take the child to a welfare centre.
operated upon, said he had been taking the child to the court until he
was ordered to take the child to a welfare centre.
“I said over my dead body. I told the magistrate that I would
not allow that. She gave the order on Thursday and by Friday, we got a
stay of execution from a high court.
not allow that. She gave the order on Thursday and by Friday, we got a
stay of execution from a high court.
“I am the claimant in the case. After I agreed to settle out of
court, I asked my lawyer to withdraw the case, but he refused. I
changed the lawyer and asked the new one to withdraw the matter. But the
magistrate refused the application. That was when I concluded that I
was no longer safe and stopped going to the court.
court, I asked my lawyer to withdraw the case, but he refused. I
changed the lawyer and asked the new one to withdraw the matter. But the
magistrate refused the application. That was when I concluded that I
was no longer safe and stopped going to the court.
“The names the boy is answering to now are the names my
daughter gave him before she died. The name I added was that of my
daughter, just to remember her,” he said.
daughter gave him before she died. The name I added was that of my
daughter, just to remember her,” he said.
Punch Metro reports that the parties would be meeting at the office
of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni, on Wednesday
(today).
of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni, on Wednesday
(today).
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde
Famous-Cole, said he would get back to our correspondent, but had yet to
do so as of press time.
Famous-Cole, said he would get back to our correspondent, but had yet to
do so as of press time.