Man bags 5 years jail term for selling his child for N10m

A Niger State magistrate court sitting in Minna, the state capital, has sentenced one Isah Aliyu to five years imprisonment for intending to sell his 9-year-old child for N10m.

The 30-year-old man attributed his action to poverty.

The incident occurred on November 15 when the buyer, one Mallam Magaji, agreed to buy the child for N7 million. But the buyer promised to pay half of the money and balance at a later date. The father of the child was said to have refused because of his desperation to collect the N7 million at once.

After the negotiation, the father agreed to the half payment but, instead of bringing the money, the buyer headed for the police station to report the deal.

The police then followed Magaji to the meeting place and arrested Aliyu who was still waiting for the money so that he could hand over his son. Aliyu was charged to court under the clause prohibiting selling of child in the Niger State Child's Right Act.

Aliyu pleaded guilty and was summarily sentenced to five years imprisonment by Chief Magistrate Hassan Mohammed.

When asked why he intended to sell his son, the convict said, "The poverty in the country is biting and things are difficult for me and my family. I felt since the boy was under my custody and he is my son, I could sell him and use the money to cater for the rest of the family."

The Chief Magistrate described his reason as inhuman, adding that poverty was not a strong reason for the father to sell his son.

He sentenced Aliyu to five years imprisonment without option of fine.