A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced a couple, Esther Ini Udo and her husband, Eyo Stephen Udo, to 15 years imprisonment each for their involvement in child trafficking.
The conviction followed a successful prosecution by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which charged the duo with multiple offences bordering on the buying and selling of children for exploitation, in violation of Nigeria’s Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
According to evidence presented in court, Esther Udo sold her own newborn baby for ₦300,000 to a woman identified as Oluchi Judith, who is currently on the run.
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Investigations further revealed that the couple also bought a one-year-old child for ₦150,000 from two individuals and later resold the child to the same buyer for ₦400,000.
Delivering judgment, Justice I. Ojukwu condemned the act, describing child trafficking as a serious violation of human rights and a grave criminal offence that must not be tolerated in society.
Although the defendants initially pleaded not guilty, the court found them guilty on all counts and handed down the sentence of 15 years imprisonment each, with an option of a ₦2 million fine. The sentence takes effect from April 1, 2026.
The court also directed NAPTIP to intensify efforts to arrest Oluchi Judith and ensure she is brought to justice for her alleged involvement in the trafficking network.
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