Nigerian couple jailed for baby trafficking

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has secured the conviction of a couple for trafficking babies in Cross River State.

The convicts, Esther Ini Udo, 32, and Eyo Stephen Udo, 34, were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment each by a Federal High Court sitting in Calabar.

According to a statement by NAPTIP on Thursday, the couple was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on the buying and selling of babies for exploitation, contrary to the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

NAPTIP disclosed that the first convict sold her newborn baby for N300,000 to a buyer identified as Oluchi Judith, who is currently on the run.

The agency further revealed that the couple also bought a one-year-old baby boy for N150,000 from two other individuals and resold the child to the same buyer for N400,000.

The offences formed the basis of the charge marked FHC/CA/19C/2025, filed on March 19, 2025.

Both defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Delivering judgment on April 1, 2026, Justice I. Ojukwu sentenced each of the convicts to 15 years in prison, with an option of a N2 million fine.

The court ruled that the sentences would run concurrently from the date of judgment.

Justice Ojukwu condemned the act and warned against child trafficking for financial gain.

The court also directed NAPTIP to arrest the alleged buyer, Oluchi Judith, for prosecution over her involvement in the crime.