A court in Cross River State has handed down a heavy punishment to a couple found guilty of trafficking babies, sentencing them to a combined 30 years in prison and imposing millions of naira in fines.
The convicts, Esther Ini Udo, 32, and her husband Eyo Stephen Udo, 34, were prosecuted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons under its Cross River State command for their involvement in the buying and selling of babies.
The pair faced a four-count charge linked to child trafficking and exploitation, offences punishable under the provisions of the TIPPEA Act, 2015. The case, filed by the Federal Government, was heard at the Federal High Court in Calabar.
During the trial, the court was told that Esther Udo sold her own newborn baby for ₦300,000 to a woman identified as Oluchi Judith, who is currently on the run. Investigators also revealed that the couple bought a one-year-old boy from two individuals for ₦150,000 before reselling the child to the same buyer for ₦400,000.
Although the couple initially pleaded not guilty, the court found them guilty on all charges. Delivering judgment, Justice I. Ojukwu sentenced Esther Udo to 15 years in prison along with a ₦2 million fine on three counts, with the sentences to run concurrently starting from April 1, 2026.
Her husband, Eyo Stephen Udo, received the same penalty — 15 years behind bars and a ₦2 million fine.
The court also directed NAPTIP to track down Oluchi Judith and bring her before the court, noting her alleged involvement in multiple human trafficking cases. The judge strongly condemned the couple’s actions, describing the act of selling babies for profit as deeply disturbing and unacceptable.
