Man Gets Five-Year Jail Term For Putting Child Up For Sale At N10m

                            

A 30-year-old man Isah Aliyu has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Niger State magistrate court sitting in Minna, the state capital, for intending to sell his 9-year-old child at N10m, an action he attributed to poverty.

The incident occurred on November 15 when the buyer, one Mallam Magaji, agreed to buy the child for N7 million, but 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, who explained why he intended to sell his son, 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 pleaded guilty and was summarily sentenced to five years imprisonment without an option of fine, by Chief Magistrate Hassan Mohammed.