The Lagos State Police Command arrested 28-year-old Okwuchukwu Ibekwe, who lived in Iyana Iba area of Lagos, for allegedly selling his five-month-old son to a child trafficker in Anambra State for N400,000.
He said he sold his son because he was having difficulties in his trade and allegedly decided with his wife to sell him.
According to PUNCH Metro the Ibekwes sold their son to one Chinelo, who stayed in Ihiala, Anambra State and is still on the run, on December 17, 2015.
It was learnt that Chinelo gave the infant’s Dad N250,000 while the mother of the baby’s mum was supposed to get N150,000.
However, when Mr. Ibekwe returned from Anambra state, he refused to give the wife her share, so she reported the matter to the police and fled the house after making the report.
Okwuchukwu was subsequently arrested and detained at the Police Gender Unit, Ikeja, while police operatives also arrested Chinelo’s husband in Anambra State. The baby and Chinelo are yet to be found.
While being paraded on Wednesday, Okwuchukwu said he collected N400,000 from Chinelo in exchange for his son with his wife’s consent.
He said:
“Chinelo was to give me N400,000 for the baby. My wife was the one who suggested that we dispose of the baby to meet our business needs.
“But Chinelo gave me N250,000 for the baby when I went to deliver him to her in Anambra State.
“When I returned, my wife and I quarrelled and she ran away for three days. I did not know that she went to report the matter to the police. She was concerned with her own share of N150,000.
“I sell vehicle spare parts in Ladipo market. “It was a lawyer who called me that my wife had reported me to the police, and that I should come and see her. When I went there, I was arrested.
“I do not know the whereabouts of my son. I did not know Chinelo would run away with my child.”
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the suspect, said the case was undergoing intense investigation and efforts to recover the baby and arrest Chinelo.
