Couple Sentenced to 15 Years for Baby Trafficking in Cross River
A couple was found guilty of baby trafficking in Cross River State by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
The Federal High Court in Calabar sentenced the two convicts, Eyo Stephen Udo, 34, and Esther Ini Udo, 32, to 15 years in prison.
The pair was charged with four counts of buying and selling infants for exploitation, in violation of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, according to a statement released by NAPTIP on Thursday.
“Today, April 1st, 2026, Cross State Command secured two (2) convictions in FRN VS ESTHER INI UDO & EYO STEPHEN UDO – CHARGE NO. FHC/CA/19C/2025,” the announcement stated. In violation of Sections 13(4)(a)(c) & (e), 21 and 27 of the TIPPEA Act, 2015, the prisoners were charged with four counts of buying and selling babies for exploitation.
For N300,000.00 (three hundred thousand naira only), the first prisoner sold her newborn child to Oluchi Judith, who is currently at large. Additionally, the two convicts purchased a one-year-old boy from Blessing and Uduak, both of whom were convicted, for N150,000.00 (one hundred and fifty thousand naira only). They then resold the child to Oluchi Judith for N400,000.00 (four hundred thousand naira only).
According to the statement, the charges filed on March 19, 2025, with the number FHC/CA/19C/2025, were based on these offenses.
The pair entered a not guilty plea to the accusations.
On April 1, 2026, trial judge Justice I. Ojukwu condemned Esther Udo to 15 years in prison with the possibility of a N2 million fine.
Eyo Udo, her spouse, was also given a 15-year prison sentence and a N2 million fine.
The court decided that the sentences will begin to run concurrently on the judgment date.
Justice Ojukwu denounced the act and cautioned the public against trafficking children in order to make money.
Additionally, the court ordered NAPTIP to detain Oluchi Judith, the purported buyer, so that she could be charged with trafficking.
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