Couple Bag 15-Year Jail Terms Each for Selling Babies in Shocking Cross River Trafficking Case
A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar has sentenced a couple, Esther Ini Udo and Eyo Stephen Udo, to 15 years’ imprisonment each for their involvement in the trafficking and sale of babies in Cross River State.
The conviction, secured by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), followed a four-count charge bordering on buying and selling of infants for exploitation under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
According to court proceedings, the convicts were found to have participated in transactions involving the sale and purchase of infants, including a newborn and a one-year-old child, with one of the babies reportedly sold and later resold through an intermediary.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges but were found culpable by the court. Delivering judgment, Justice I. Ojukwu sentenced each of the convicts to 15 years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦2 million fine. The sentences are to run concurrently from the date of judgment.
The court described the act as condemnable and warned members of the public against engaging in child trafficking for financial gain. It also directed NAPTIP to apprehend and prosecute an alleged buyer linked to the case.
The ruling highlights ongoing efforts by authorities to clamp down on child trafficking networks and reinforces the legal consequences for individuals involved in the exploitation of children.
From a safeguarding perspective, the case underscores the need for stronger community vigilance, reporting systems, and preventive measures to protect vulnerable children from trafficking and exploitation.
