Nigerian Edo State Police Command on Monday paraded a retired nursing officer, Wilfred Egahae, 62, and one Juliet Agbonifo, 45, for allegedly selling and buying a nine-day-old baby girl, respectively.
Parading the suspects, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, said the Ogida Police Division effected the arrest of the woman after a tip-off.
He said, “The divisional police officer in charge of Ogida Police Division received information that a certain woman, Juliet Agbonifo, 45, had procured a child at Ogida area and mobilised to the scene, and arrested the woman.”
“The woman led the police to the man, one Wilfred Egahae, 62, who sold the child to her for N400,000. The woman who gave birth to the baby is not yet known and the baby is nine day old,” he added.
He said the suspects would be charged to court after thorough investigation.
Speaking to journalists, Wilfred said one Prosper Peter delivered in his maternity centre where the baby was bought but denied knowledge of the transaction.
“I retired as a Chief Nursing Officer and I currently run Uyiosa Clinic and Maternity, at Erunse Street, off Ekhiakpen, Benin where the woman delivered.
“The mother, Prosper Peter, delivered in our facility and the buyer is linked to one of our nurses who connected the two of them. I was not part of the negotiations but I heard that the money was N400,000. I called today and she said she was coming to the station but she hasn’t come.”
On her part, Juliet said her need for a baby made her buy one.
“I bought the baby at the cost of N400,000 and I paid another N20,000 at the hospital and discharged bills.
“I don’t know the mother of the baby and the man (Wilfred) who sold the baby to me said after some months, he would do the normal things so that the deal would be covered.”
She said the police got to know of the crime when her son’s girlfriend, who was staying with her, reported her to the police due to a misunderstanding between them.
