A 34-year-old woman has been remanded in Ado Ekiti over allegations of stealing a newborn.
The court ordered her detention pending legal advice amid rising child theft concerns in Ekiti.
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in the Ado Ekiti District has ordered that a 34-year-old woman, identified as Deborah Ayeni, be kept at the correctional facility in Ado Ekiti over allegations of stealing a newborn baby from a health center in the state capital.
The order was made on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, during court proceedings.
According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, the alleged incident occurred on August 4, 2025, and attracted widespread attention due to the rising cases of child theft in Ekiti State. He explained that the offence falls under Section 292 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021.
Oriyomi told the court that Ayeni was “reasonably suspected to have committed the offence” and requested that she be remanded in custody while investigations continue. He also informed the court that the case file had already been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The defendant, who was represented by her counsel, Stephen Ademuwagun, did not take a plea during the proceedings.
Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun granted the prosecutor’s application for her remand and adjourned the matter until September 12 for mention. The case is expected to proceed after the DPP’s advice is received and further legal steps are taken.
