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Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Calabar, on Thursday sentenced the couple to 15 years in prison each for child trafficking.
The Cross River Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Human Trafficking (NAPTIP) charged Esther and Eyo Udo with four counts of buying and selling babies for exploitation.
In his ruling, Justice Ojukwu convicted the couple on all charges after reviewing the evidence presented in court.
He sentenced Esther to 15 years in prison and a fine of N2 million.
According to the judge, the sentences will run concurrently and come into effect from the date of the decision.
The judge also directed authorities to arrest Oluchi Judith for trial for her alleged involvement in various human trafficking cases.
Prosecutors said Esther sold her newborn baby for N300,000 to Judith, who is currently still at large.
NAPTIP also told the court that the convict also bought a one year old boy for N150,000 and sold him to the same buyer for N400,000.
They were charged under Sections 13(4)(a)(c)(e), 21 and 27 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
But they pleaded not guilty to charges filed on March 19, 2025, triggering a full trial.
