December 9, 2018 Firscall News
A civil society group, the Coalition of Civil Societies andMedia Executives for Good Governance in Nigeria (COCMEGG) has frowned on the unfortunate incident involving Mr. and Mrs. Odom Ogboso, whose twins were forcefully taken from them by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons NAPTIP, as it urged the agency to expedite the release of the twins to their parents.
“ Any delay in releasing the twins to the rightful parents will amount to perversion of justice,” it stated.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, the group stated that “The intriguing case of Lovina and her husband Mr. Odom Ogboso and their twins, indigenes of Abia State were arrested by NAPTIP Uyo, Akwa Ibom state command on February this year on the allegation of child trafficking at the Nigerian-Cameroon border, requires urgent attention.
“We sincerely believe that it is within the purview of NAPTIP to arrest, investigate and prosecute anybody involved in child trafficking under the NAPTIP Act of 2003.
“This couple came up with an intriguing alibi that seems to suggest that Mr. and Mrs. Lovina Odom Ogboso are the biological parents of the twins (Awesome and Honour) found in their possession”, it stated.
It was alleged that the birth of the twins was through CRYPTIC PREGNANCY, which NAPTIP investigation did not take cognizant of.
“Though, we do not claim to be experts in Cryptic Pregnancy theory, our investigations and findings seem to give credence to their claims.
“On the website www.crypticpregnancy.com it is stated and we quote: “Cryptic Pregnancy is a pregnancy where there is no detectable HCG in the mother’s system due to a hormonal imbalance in the mother; the foetus may go undetected by mothers and doctors until delivery. But many of these women are very aware that they are pregnant. Mostly dreaded is that DNA always negative because no HCG.”
It further stated that, “In Nigeria where desperate childless couples often resort to traditional method, when all efforts through orthodox fail, are said to be responsible for these pregnancies that always result to these unfortunate incidents.
“And this couple in question, Mr. and Mrs. Ogboso resorted to this traditional method that produced these twins that are in contention after 16 years search for a child.
“A female member of the Presbyterian Church, where the couple were ordained as elders, was said to have witnessed the birth of the twins and testified as such.
Our questions are:
1. Did NAPTIP command in its investigation endeavour to confirm the existence of Cryptic Pregnancy, if so, what were their findings?
2. Is it true that Lovina Odom Ogboso was made to sign a confessional statement under duress?
3. We observe that since the couple were arrested, nobody has reported that the twins are missing or kidnapped, yet they are being hounded and threatened, while still denying them access to their twins.
We are calling on the Federal Government to urgently set up an inquiry for proper investigation, as this couple are today shadow of themselves since the February this year when they were arrested.
Justice delayed, is justice denied.
This is a test case that the Federal Government should treat with globes as the couple as Nigerians deserve fair treatment.
We promise to go on streets protest, should this case be ungainly treated.
Omoba Kenneth Agbegbele
National President
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