A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a couple to five years’ imprisonment each for attempting to sell their one-year-old son for ₦800,000.
The convicts, Emmanuel Okechukwu Ogbodo, 28, and Peace Ufeabuchi Nnamonu, 22, were convicted of conspiracy and attempted child trafficking.
Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie delivered the judgment on Thursday, November 12, 2026, after both defendants pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them.
The court imposed five years’ imprisonment on each defendant for conspiracy and an additional two and a half years for attempted child trafficking.
However, Justice Oghoghorie directed that both sentences run concurrently, meaning the defendants will serve the longer five-year term rather than serving the sentences consecutively.
The judge further ordered that their prison terms take effect from the dates of their respective arrests.
How the Attempted Child Sale Was Uncovered
According to the Cross River Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the couple had arranged to transfer their one-year-old son to another person in exchange for ₦800,000.
The proposed transaction was uncovered after the prospective buyer alerted the authorities and provided information about the arrangement.
Acting on the tip-off, NAPTIP intervened and stopped the planned transaction before the child could be sold.
The agency subsequently investigated the matter, leading to the prosecution of the couple.
The Couple Pleaded Guilty to Trafficking Charges
The defendants were charged under Sections 27 and 29 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
The two-count charge was filed on October 12, 2026, and their arraignment took place on November 3, 2026.
Both defendants admitted the offences when they appeared before the court, paving the way for the judge to deliver judgment.
The ruling represents another prosecution under Nigeria’s anti-human trafficking legislation and highlights the criminal consequences of attempting to trade children for financial gain.
The case also underscores the importance of public cooperation in identifying and reporting suspected child trafficking activities.
