A Federal High Court 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 found guilty 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 should run concurrently, meaning the defendants will serve the longer five-year term rather than adding the sentences together.
The judge further ordered that their prison terms should take effect from the respective dates of their arrest.
How the attempted child sale was uncovered
According to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Cross River Command, the couple had allegedly arranged to transfer their one-year-old son to another person in exchange for ₦800,000.
The proposed transaction was reportedly uncovered after the intended 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.
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, while their arraignment took place on November 3.
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.
