A certain Nigerian woman, Ijeoma Ndoku, married to a Liberian, one Daniel Barnney, recently raised the alarm over her husband’s plan to sell their nine-month-old son for N250, 000.
Ndoku said her husband attempted to sell their son, Emmanuel, to a 43-year-old woman, Richard Ekah, last month and flee to Ghana afterwards.
Officers from the Festac Police Division were said to have arrested Barnney and Ekah at Mile 2 on February 12.
Aslo, a pastor, Samuel Osavitu and a worker at an orphanage, Alhaji Sunkanmi Adamu, are being held in connection with the crime and are currently being quizzed at the division over the matter.
The police have, however, recovered the baby from Ekah, The Nation reports.
According to Ndoku, her 32-year-old husband, Barnney had been quarrelling with her for some time because she did not allow him take the baby to his aunt, who she never saw.
Meanwhile,Barnney, following his confession at the station, admitted to have received N250, 000 from Ekah through Adamu.
He denied selling the baby, adding that the money was given to him to start a business.
Barnney claimed that his wife abandoned the child. He said since he could not cater for the boy alone, he took him to an orphanage.
But Njoku debunked Barnney’s claims of abandoning the child, accusing him of fleeing with the boy on their way to buy groceries.
She said, “It’s a lie! I didn’t abandon my baby. He said he wanted to hand the baby over to his aunt. I said it was okay since his aunt was now in Nigeria.
“I said it will give me opportunity to look for a job and support the family because he has not been taking care of us because for over three months, he has been saying he does not have money to take care of me and my baby but he usually had money to buy drinks and cigarettes.
“He could not even bring out N150 for me to buy pampers for our baby. Even when I wanted to take the baby to the hospital, I usually went and borrowed money; other times, our neighbours will give me money to cater for the baby.
“He used to get drunk and vomit. When I complained, he would bring out iron rod and hit it on my head. I fell down once, tried to go and open the door, but he dragged me back.
“I didn’t know his plan was to sell our baby. I said I wanted to see his aunt. He said if the aunt knows that I am around, she wouldn’t collect the baby. He asked me if I wanted the baby to die, I said no,” the wife noted, adding that she learnt of her husband’s plan to sell their son from his boss.
Njoku continued, “My husband’s boss told me that he was planning to sell my son for N250, 000. She (the boss) said Barnney disclosed that after selling the baby, he would leave for Ghana.
“I didn’t believe her so the woman said I should come back around 4pm so I would hear the story from some of her assistants. I told my husband’s friend. He doubted the story too, so he followed me.
“It was in his presence that the woman told us everything. She said she became curious and concerned after she noticed Barnney was always with the baby.
“When she asked, Barnney told her that I abandoned the baby and ran away. She asked for my number, so that she could speak to me, but Barnney refused. That was when she knew he was lying.
“I told her my husband told me the baby was with his aunt. She said that was part of the reason she withheld his salary,” Ndoku said.
“On January 29, Barnney called that he was coming to see his son. When he came, our neighbours were happy and advised me to forgive him.
“To effect his plan to take away the baby, he tricked me that we were going to buy things for our baby.
“When I alighted from the motorcycle (Okada), we were about to enter a store, when Barnney disappeared with the baby,” Njoku added.
Meanwhile, the buyer of the baby, Ekah, claimed that she adopted the child.
According to her, she never knew the adoption process was illegal.
“I was advised by Pastor Samuel Osavitu to adopt a child so that God can open my womb,” Ekah added.
The pastor, Osavitu, however, denied conspiring with others to steal the baby. He said he was only trying to help Ekah and save the child’s life.
Osavitu said, “I have known the orphanage guy for almost nine years. He’s a good man. He’s the manager at the orphanage.
“I used to go to the orphanage to preach there,” the pastor noted.
The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, ASP Aliyu Giwa, said the police would get to the root of the case.
He added that the baby had been recovered and the suspects were under police investigation.
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