Woman who dispossessed mother of newborn jailed for child trafficking

The Federal High Court successful Calabar has convicted 1 Ms Mbika Edem, besides known arsenic Ikwo, connected a four-count complaint bordering connected conspiracy and kid trafficking.

The offences which contravened Sections 13(2)(b), 21, and 27 of the Trafficking successful Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 was secured by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking successful Persons, NAPTIP.

The authoritative had told the tribunal that Edem conspired with a nurse, present astatine large, to induce 1 Ms Mercy Ekanem to present prematurely done deception.

“Ekanem was forced into aboriginal labour and dispossessed of her newborn soon aft delivery.

“The convict reportedly sold the babe to an unidentified purchaser and abandoned the unfortunate by the roadside with N200, 000,” the authoritative said.

The convict who had pleaded not blameworthy to the charges filed connected March 4, 2025, was arraigned earlier the tribunal connected March 19, 2025, erstwhile proceedings commenced.

Delivering judgement connected the substance connected Monday, Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie recovered the suspect blameworthy connected each counts.

Oghoghorie sentenced her to 2 years imprisonment connected number 1 with an enactment of N2 cardinal fine.

She further sentenced the suspect to 2 years imprisonment each connected counts two, 3 and 4 without enactment of fine.

“The sentences are to tally concurrently and instrumentality effect from the day of her arrest.

“Also, the convict i...