Child Trafficking: Woman Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison In Port Harcourt For Selling A 1-Year 7-Month Old Baby For 200,000 Naira

The Court sentenced a Nigerian lady identified as Blessing Stephen to 10 years in prison for child trafficking.

In December 2018, the incident happened in the Rumukalagbor area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.

She was charged alongside Abigail Friday Udo who is 21 years old, for conspiring to sell her one year seven month old child for 200,000 naira.

Chief Magistrate Amaka Amanze who delivered the judgment discharge but issued an order requiring the first defendant, Abigail Friday Udo, to appear in court three times a week.

Abigail has to sweep and dust the furniture in the courtroom for one year as her punishment.

That is because the court said that right from the beginning of the matter, Abigail showed reasonable remorse for selling her child.

She told the court that they duped her into thinking they were telling her to take the child to the orphanage because she lacked the financial resources and support to care for the child.

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TRAFFICKING IN NIGERIA

The court sentenced Blessing Stephen to 3 years imprisonment for conspiracy and 7 years for child trafficking, offences which carry harsh punishment under section 27(2)(B)(C) of the Child Rights Act cap 50 LFN 2003.

The court added that Blessing Stephen is an unrepentant and hardened liar.

And if the prosecution proves the case, well that she actually deceived the first defendant to sell her baby and give her only N20,000 and did not give her the balance till date.

She will serve 10 years in prison and her jail term will run consecutively.

Mrs Esther Achor-Korienta on behalf of FIDA [which is an association of women lawyers] hailed the judgement.

They saw this as one of many landmark decisions won by FIDA as they continue to fight child exploitation and trafficking.