The Federal High Court in Calabar has convicted one Ms Mbika Edem, also known as Ikwo, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and child trafficking.
The offences which contravened Sections 13(2)(b), 21, and 27 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 was secured by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.
The prosecutor had told the court that Edem conspired with a nurse, now at large, to induce one Ms Mercy Ekanem to deliver prematurely through deception.
“Ekanem was forced into early labour and dispossessed of her newborn shortly after delivery.
“The convict reportedly sold the baby to an unidentified buyer and abandoned the victim by the roadside with N200, 000,” the prosecutor said.
The convict who had pleaded not guilty to the charges filed on March 4, 2025, was arraigned before the court on March 19, 2025, when trial commenced.
Delivering judgment on the matter on Monday, Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie found the defendant guilty on all counts.
Oghoghorie sentenced her to two years imprisonment on count one with an option of N2 million fine.
She further sentenced the defendant to two years imprisonment each on counts two, three and four without option of fine.
“The sentences are to run concurrently and take effect from the date of her arrest.
“Also, the convict is to pay N500,000 as compensation to the victim; additionally, the N200,000 recovered from the victim shall be forfeited to the Federal Government,” she said.
