Couple Receives 15-Year Prison Sentences for Baby Trafficking Operation in Cross River
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has successfully prosecuted and secured the conviction of a married couple involved in the reprehensible buying and selling of infants in Cross River State. Esther Ini Udo, aged 32, and her husband Eyo Stephen Udo, aged 34, were each handed fifteen-year prison terms by the Federal High Court located in Calabar.
Details of the Conviction and Charges
According to an official statement released by NAPTIP on Thursday, April 2, 2026, the couple faced a four-count charge related to the procurement and sale of babies for exploitation purposes. This activity directly violates the stringent provisions outlined in the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act of 2015.
The specific case, referenced as FRN VS ESTHER INI UDO & EYO STEPHEN UDO – CHARGE NO. FHC/CA/19C/2025, saw convictions secured on April 1, 2026. The charges were formally filed with the court on March 19, 2025, detailing multiple violations under sections 13(4)(a)(c) & (e), 21, and 27 of the TIPPEA Act.
Shocking Transactions Involving Infants
The court proceedings revealed disturbing details of the trafficking network. Esther Udo sold her own newborn baby to an individual named Oluchi Judith, who remains at large, for the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira). Furthermore, the couple jointly purchased a one-year-old baby boy from two other individuals identified as Blessing and Uduak for N150,000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira).
In a subsequent transaction, they resold this same infant to Oluchi Judith for N400,000 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira), demonstrating a calculated profit-driven scheme exploiting vulnerable children.
Court Judgment and Sentencing
Despite pleading not guilty to all charges, the trial judge, Justice I. Ojukwu, delivered a firm judgment on April 1, 2026. Both Esther Udo and Eyo Udo were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each. The court provided an alternative option of a N2 million fine for each convict. Justice Ojukwu ordered that the prison sentences would run concurrently from the date of the judgment.
In her ruling, Justice Ojukwu strongly condemned the illicit activities, issuing a stern warning to the public against engaging in child trafficking for financial gain. She emphasized the severe legal and moral consequences of such exploitation.
Ongoing Investigation and Further Actions
The court has also directed NAPTIP to intensify efforts to apprehend the alleged buyer, Oluchi Judith, for prosecution concerning her suspected involvement in these trafficking activities. This directive underscores the commitment to dismantling entire networks involved in human trafficking rather than targeting only the immediate perpetrators.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to combat human trafficking and protect the most vulnerable members of society, particularly children, from exploitation and illegal trade.
