A 42-year-old well-known food vendor in Akure, Happiness Sunday, has been remanded at the Ondo Correctional Centre by an Akure Family Magistrates’ Court following her arraignment in connection with the disappearance of a four-year-old child, Jensita, who was in her custody.
Happiness, the owner of Chioma Restaurants in Akure, was charged alongside the child’s mother, Nneka Onah, 23, on two counts of child stealing.
Police prosecutor Martins Olowofeso informed the court that the alleged offense occurred on February 7, 2025, along Hospital Road in Akure. Olowofeso alleged that the defendants stole four-year-old Jensita Sunday.
It was revealed that Jensita’s mother had entrusted her daughter to the second defendant, Happiness, after repeated requests from her to take custody of the child, with a promise to care for her. However, after two weeks, Happiness reportedly approached the child’s father, Ifeanyi, claiming that she had come to pick up the child without the father’s consent.
The offense is said to contravene Section 371 of the Criminal Code Law, 2006.
The prosecutor requested that the defendants be remanded at a correctional center pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Defense lawyer Alex Olademehin urged the court to grant bail to his client, Happiness, to allow her access to medical care, as she had been in police detention for two weeks. Olademehin also pointed out that the second defendant, Nneka Onah, had been operating her shop freely without showing remorse prior to her court appearance.
Magistrate B.A. Alphonso ordered Happiness to be remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, while Nneka was granted medical attention before being remanded in custody. The magistrate also directed that the case file be forwarded to the police for further investigation.
The case was adjourned to March 25, 2025, for mention.
In response to the court’s order, it was reported that the police had shut down the restaurant on Thursday and arrested all of the workers.
