The Enugu State Police Command has said it has arrested a medical doctor, Emmanuel Ugwumba, over alleged child trafficking and certificate forgery.
The Enugu State Police Command stated this in a press release by its public relations officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.
The release read, “Operatives serving in the Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, on September 28, 2024, arrested one Dr Emmanuel Chimaobi Ugwumba “m”, aged 52, of Ezimo-Agu, Udenu Local Government Area.
“His arrest followed the interception of a public notice on an abandoned child he made, endorsed in the name of the Enugu State Ministry of Gender and Social Development as the director of OTZ, and published in the Daily Sun Newspaper of September 27, 2024.
“Upon his arrest, he was found to be involved in child trafficking, with one pregnant woman, the four-year-old publicised child and another two-year-old child, both female, being rescued.
“Investigations revealed that the suspect, who claimed to be a graduate of medicine and surgery from the University of Jos, owns and manages Chima Hospital and Maternity located at Ugbaike, Enugu-Ezike in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.
“It was further discovered that between 2017 and 2024, he conspired with an acclaimed staff member of the ministry and others at large to conduct antenatal care and delivery of seven yet-to-be-traced children from different mothers in the hospital.
“The suspect was also found to be in unauthorised possession of different documents from the Ministry of Gender Affairs and unverified pest/vector certificates from the Enugu State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources.”
Ndukwe stated that he has been arraigned in court and remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Custodial Centre, pending further hearing.
