Two reverend sisters of Roman Catholic Church were on Monday remanded in police custody by the Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State over child adoption.

Reverend sisters Angela Onyenachi Ibe (42) and Chiemelie Jacinta Yvonne (41) were arraigned on four count charges of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretense, punishable under Sections 495(a) and 386 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Volume II, the Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991, and illegal dealings on children as well as fraudulent adoption punishable under Sections 30(2)(b) of the Child's Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004.

The two defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Their counsel sought for their bail on the ground that they are reverend sisters of the Roman Catholic Church and would religiously attend their trials, whenever called upon to appear before the court.

Chief Magistrate Genevieve C. Osakwe described the ground of bail application as very weak, and unknown to law.

She bemoaned what she called the rising cases of illegal adoption and dealings on children in Anambra State, and called on the security agencies in the state, especially the police to extend their search, arrest and prosecution of all persons involved in the management of illegal Children and Old People Homes across the state.

She ordered the defendants to be remanded at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Awka and adjourned the case to May 29, for hearing.

Responding to questions during the arraignment, the two sisters stated that they both hail from Imo State, and belonged to a Catholic Congregation, known as the St. Francis of Compassion, also based in Imo State.

They stated that they were staff members and attendants at the Sam Damian Community Children's and Old People's Home, located at Obosi in Anambra State.