A Federal High Court in Calabar has sentenced 38-year-old Mbika Edem, alias Ikwo, to prison for selling a newborn in Cross River State.
NAPTIP spokesman Vincent Adekoye confirmed the conviction Thursday. Edem was found guilty of conspiracy and child trafficking under case FHC/CA/12C/2025.
Court records showed Edem worked with a nurse, Blessing, who is still at large. The pair tricked pregnant Mercy Ekanem into an early delivery, then sold her baby to an unidentified buyer.
NAPTIP said Ekanem was dumped by the roadside after the procedure with ₦200,000.
Edem pleaded not guilty when arraigned March 19 on four counts under the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2015.
Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie convicted her on all counts.
● Count 1: 2 years jail with ₦2m fine option.
● Counts 2–4: 2 years each, no fine option.
Sentences run concurrently from her arrest date.
The court ordered Edem to pay ₦500,000 compensation to Ekanem. The ₦200,000 from the sale was forfeited to the Federal Government.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
