Abia couple sells baby to Lagosian for N400,000 few hours after delivery
An Abia couple, Ifeanyi and wife Emmaculata Elijah, have landed in trouble for allegedly attempting to sell their daughter, Chinecherem for a sum of N400,000.
According to the Monitoring Unit of the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Imo State Police Command, the couple, 35 and 30 years old respectively, had sold the infant just a few hours after her delivery.
Investigations led to their arrest.
It was discovered that the accused are part of a baby trafficking syndicate.
Identities of other suspects in connection with the crime are: Grace Mezu, 55, of Umuoba Uratta, in the Owerri North LGA; Fedalia Ariri, 55, also of Umuoba Uratta; and Amarachi Obiekwe, 49, of Osina, in the Ideato North LGA.
The suspects were all paraded at the command headquarters in Owerri on Monday.
Police PRO in the state, Andrew Enwerem, said the couple conspired on January 26, 2018, a few hours after giving birth to the girl and sold her to Obiekwe, through Mezu and Ariri.
Enwerem, who disclosed that the couple had given birth to seven children, said the whereabouts of two were still unknown.
According to him, the woman was delivered of the baby at home, while the waiting buyers paid immediately to take possession of the newborn baby.
“The Commissioner of Police, who is pissed off with this act of wickedness and crime against humanity, has ordered that the wheels of justice and investigation be accelerated so that the matter would be charged to court.
“Having found out that the mother of the child was part of the conspiracy, the CP has ordered that the innocent baby be taken from her and handed over to the Imo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
“The suspects have made confessional statements and we are working to ensure that justice is served. The Commissioner of Police advised that those who are in need of children should go through legal means to adopt them.”
The baby’s mother, however, denied having knowledge of the crime, despite that her husband and three other suspects claimed she did.
The father said he and his wife gave Mezu, who brought the buyer, N6,000 from the amount that was paid for the baby.
The woman who allegedly bought the baby, Obiekwe, said she gave the couple the agreed amount in their house.
