The International Federation of Women lawyers FIDA has raised alarm over the increase in child trafficking, buying and selling of new born babies
Lawyer to FIDA Esther’s Achor-Korienta who presided over most the child theft cases brought to court yesterday told our correspondent that though the magistrate court remanded 15 years old Gift Godday to children Remand home to serve as a correctional facility because at 15 years of age she is still a minor while the 32 years old father of three Ihiechi Ezendu to prison custody for conniving with gifts boyfriend who is still at large to sell her three days old baby
She said of all the cases she handled today, eight (8) cases out of the 13 bordered on child theft and trafficking and that the trend of child theft is becoming a re-occurring incidents in the state.
FIDA lawyer Esther Achor Korienta also explained that the 32 years old Ihiechi Ezendu and 15 years old Gift Godday connived with the buyers who is now at large to sell her newborn baby for 300,000 Naira and was brought to court following a tip off
The Two count charges read to the suspects are as follows
Count I. Ihiechi Ezendu and gift Godday stated that on the 2nd day of July 2019 at Mininwayi street Oyibo, in the oyigbo Magisterial District but trilable in the port Harcourt Magisterial district did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; Child trafficking and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516(A) of the criminal code cap .37 vol II, Laws of rivers state of Nigeria 1999.
Count II That you Ihiechi Ezendu M’ Gift Godday ‘F’ and others now at large on the same date and aforesaid Magisterial District did sell your new born baby girl to unknown persons at the cost of three hundred thousand naira (300,000.00) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 30 (1) (3) of Child Rights Act, Cap 50 LFN 2003
We gathered that Gifts boyfriend 25 years old boy had impregnated her took her to ABA Abia State without the consent of her parents who had reported her missing after she absconded from home without a trace in the last night month. On giving birth to a baby girl, gift was lodged in an undisclosed hotel in Aba where the transaction took place and the baby was sold off. We also gathered that Gift was not settled as claimed but was given a torch light phone worth four thousand Naira only
And upon interrogation Ihiechi Ezendu claimed he had only received one hundred and fifty thousand naira out the agreed three hundred thousand before the police nabbed them, he said he handed #100,00.00 to his friend who is also Gifts boyfriend and used #50,000 naira to settle Gifts Medical Bills and upkeep,