TheCable

The Anambra government says it has  apprehended one Oluchukwu Nwosu for allegedly selling her three-month-old grandchild for N50,000.

Speaking to journalists in Awka on Sunday, Ify Obinabo, the state commissioner for women and social welfare, said the baby was rescued following consistent intelligence reports and surveillance that lasted almost a month.

“The rescue operation followed a report by Ijeoma Nwosu, who claimed that her mother, Oluchukwu, forcefully sold her baby soon after he was born and refused to tell her the baby’s whereabouts,” Obinabo said.

“Following receipt of the allegation, the ministry immediately took action to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

“Four suspects involved in the crime have been apprehended and would be handed over to the police for questioning and further investigation.

“It is sad that the baby is looking sick and underweight.

“According to the buyer, she has no money to buy proper baby food and she resorted to feeding the baby with soya bean powder.”

The commissioner condemned the continued practice of illegal adoption in the state, in spite of the government’s efforts to put an end to it.

She warned that perpetrators of unlawful adoption would be made to face legal actions.

During questioning, Nwosu pleaded for forgiveness, saying the baby she sold was the third child her daughter — Ijeoma — had outside wedlock.

“We are poor. There is no money to feed and take care of ourselves and the children,” she said.

“So, when I met one Tochukwu Asiegbu, we bargained and agreed that he will pay N50,000 and he paid me the money.”

Asiegbu, on his part, said his profit from the deal was N30,000, adding that he only connected Nwosu to the buyer.

Evelyn Egwuatu, the buyer, said she paid N200,000 to obtain the baby from one Ebelechukwu Uba, who hails from Ebonyi but resides in Anambra.

Uba, however, said he was just a middleman, adding that Asiegbu and Nwosu made the decision to sell the baby to Egwuatu.