The Federal High Court sitting in Gombe has sentenced two persons to two years’ imprisonment each for buying a newborn baby girl in what the court described as a case of child trafficking.
The trial judge, Justice Amina Aliyu-Muhammad, delivered the judgment on Thursday. She ordered that the two convicts be remanded at the Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre. However, the court gave them an option of paying a fine of N1 million each instead of serving the prison term.
The convicts are Ibe Chukwumeka, a resident of Railway Cross, behind Bridge, Ahiz Garan in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State, and Okafor Virgia, of Aso Road, Mararraba in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
They were prosecuted for allegedly purchasing a newborn baby girl from one Muhammad Abdullahi, who is currently at large.
The defendants were charged under Section 21 of the Child Trafficking (Prohibition) Law, 2015 (as amended). The law prohibits the sale, purchase, transfer, and exploitation of children for any purpose.
According to the prosecution, the two defendants bought the baby from Abdullahi, who has not yet been arrested. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to track him down.
Counsel for the prosecution, Miss Yila Kopyo, told the court that the actions of the defendants clearly violated Section 21 of the law. She argued that buying a child, regardless of the reason, amounts to trafficking and is a serious offence under Nigerian law.
The defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge when they were arraigned.
During the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses who gave evidence before the court. The witnesses were cross-examined by defence counsel, Barrister Raphael, who attempted to challenge the prosecution’s claims.
After reviewing the evidence presented, Justice Aliyu-Muhammad ruled that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, which is the legal standard required in criminal cases.
“The court finds the defendants guilty as charged, and they are hereby convicted and sentenced accordingly,” the judge said.
She then sentenced both convicts to two years in prison, with the option of paying a N1 million fine each.
Child trafficking remains a serious problem in Nigeria. In many cases, children are bought and sold for illegal adoption, forced labour, or other forms of exploitation.
Although some buyers claim they only want to raise a child, the law does not allow private arrangements for the purchase of children. Adoption must follow legal procedures supervised by government authorities and family courts to protect the rights of the child.
In recent years, law enforcement agencies have increased efforts to crack down on baby factories and illegal adoption rings in different parts of the country. Several suspects have been arrested and prosecuted.
The Child Trafficking (Prohibition) Law, 2015, was enacted to protect children from abuse, exploitation, and sale. It provides strict penalties for anyone found guilty of trafficking-related offences.
Human rights groups have welcomed court decisions that enforce the law, saying such judgments send a strong message that child trafficking will not be tolerated.
A legal practitioner in Gombe, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the sentence, though with an option of fine, shows that the courts are taking child protection seriously.
“Child trafficking is not a minor offence. It affects the future of the child and the society. The law is clear, and the court has applied it,” he said.
However, some members of the public have expressed concern about the option of a fine, arguing that stronger punishment may help deter others.
Government agencies and civil society groups have continued to call on Nigerians to follow due process when seeking to adopt a child. Legal adoption involves social welfare departments, background checks, and court approval to ensure the safety and welfare of the child.
Authorities have also urged members of the public to report suspicious activities related to the sale or movement of children.
Meanwhile, the man alleged to have sold the newborn baby, Muhammad Abdullahi, remains at large. Security agencies say investigations are ongoing to arrest him and possibly uncover any wider trafficking network.
The conviction of Chukwumeka and Virgia is seen as part of a broader effort to tackle child trafficking in Nigeria.
For now, the two convicts face either serving their two-year jail term at the Gombe Medium Security Custodial Centre or paying the N1 million fine each as ordered by the court.
