A man has been remanded in custody for alleged theft and the sale of a set of twins for N3.5m in P/Harcourt.

A Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt has ordered the remand of one Dennis Chimezie on suspicion of stealing a set of twins and selling them for N3.5 million.

Dennis Chimieze was arraigned in court on a two-count felony charge of child trafficking, but pleaded not guilty.

The suspect, a resident of Igwuruta town in Rivers state’s Ikwere Local Government Area, allegedly conspired with others, who are now at large, to steal and sell the set of twins.

However, before being sentenced to prison, the suspect told the court that he was not involved in the twins’ adoption process.

Before he was asked to take custody of the three-day-old children until they return to the country in December 2021, he claims that his wife’s sister and her husband, who live overseas, had already concluded all discussions about the adoption.

Rita Ogugwo, the trial Magistrate, inquired as to the whereabouts of the twins.

The Investigating Police Officer, IPO, in charge of the case at the SCID, ASP Satumari Gabriel, informed her that they had died.

Chidinma Maduka is said to have started the process of adopting the twins.

Following the applications made by the Prosecutor and Counsel to the accused, the Magistrate ordered that the Director of Koko Homes at No. 11 Eagle Island and her staff, as well as a staff of Imo State Correctional Service, Chidinma Maduka and one Favour Onyekachi, appear in court on the next adjourned date.

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She also issued an order directing the Commissioner of Police to arrest and produce them in court if they violated the order, before adjourning the case to Monday, July 12 and 13, 2021, for continuation and consideration of the accused’s bail application.

Remember that the suspect was arrested on April 7, 2021, arraigned, and remanded at the Correctional Center on Wednesday, July 7, 2021.

Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Augustine-Akarandu, the accused’s counsel, stated that his client, Dennis Chimezie, was a victim of circumstance in the case.

He accused the police of extortion to the tune of over 500,000 naira.

According to Akwarandu, his client is a “victim of circumstance” because he was only carrying out an order from her “sister in law who is based abroad.”