Ebonyi State government and counsel to the family of Mr Philip Nweze of Uburu in Ohaozara local government area of have traded words of alleged conspiracy, child trafficking and abduction of a baby boy given birth to by Susannah, a younger sister to Mr Nweze.
Nweze, through his counsel, Nzogbu Kingsley and Abel Ikeduchi Oru, in a petition addressed to the inspector-general of police, said on 19th June, 2025, his client got a distress call that Susannah was arrested by the men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ebonyi State Command, Abakaliki.
“It is our brief that upon our client’s visit to the NSCDC office, his younger sister narrated her ordeal in the hands of the suspects.
“That on the first week of March 2025, she was abducted by a known Afikpo businessman and was taken to Ukpa in Afikpo, from where she was taken to an obscure place at the police clinic in Abakaliki by Inspector Maureen Otum, through the directives and instructions of SP Loveth Uche.
“That she was confined and held back for three months and two weeks, the period during which the culprits compelled her to make a video that she would voluntarily sell her unborn baby boy to them.
“That when she eventually gave birth to her said baby on the 8th day of June, 2025, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Culprits herein above conspired and hastily sold the baby boy at the sum of N25,000,000. 00.
He noted that Susannah was given N700,000.00 when they discharged her on June 11, 2025, and told her to travel out of town.
They called for the timely intervention of the IGP to ensure the proper investigation of those accused, considering the background of the issues raised, and unravel their criminal activities.
We also implore the IGP to compel the culprits to produce the sold baby from now on and to invite everyone directly or indirectly involved in the said criminal activities.
However, in a swift reaction, the Ebonyi State government denied any alleged involvement in the sale, abduction or conspiracy in the incident, adding that the child was brought to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development as reported by an online media.
The state commissioner for women affairs and social development, Barrister Fecilia Nwankpuma, noted that the ministry only took custody of the baby for his safety and welfare.
Also reacting, the state commissioner for information and state orientation, Barrister Ikeuwa Omebe, said that the family of Philip Nweze accused officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Abakaliki of colluding with the Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to prevent the recovery of the baby allegedly sold by police officers.
“The attention of the Ebonyi State government has been drawn to a series of reports by an online media alleging conspiracy against the ministry.
“Ordinarily, the state government would have kept mute on the matter since agencies of government such as NSCDC, NAPTIP, Police and Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, earlier accused of compromising on the matter through their agents, have taken turns to debunk the allegation.
“But for the love and care the state governor has for children in the state and in tandem with the Child Rights Law of 2010, I have decided to put the record straight.
“The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development became involved in the matter when the police brought the baby for official documentation. The Child Rights Law of 2010 empowers the state government to protect the child’s welfare and ensure a safe environment for their upbringing.
“It is the mandate of the ministry to keep vulnerable children who need urgent attention in its custody for their survival. The mother of the said baby gave up the boy for custody and possible adoption, since, according to her, she was not financially and emotionally stable to keep the baby.
The ministry is currently handling the matter based on extant law, and an investigation is ongoing to ascertain the genuineness and circumstances surrounding the baby’s birth, paternity, and other incidents.
“What the ministry has done is to ensure that the child is kept where his welfare and security will be guaranteed pending the conclusion of the investigation on the matter.”
He maintained that the outcome of the investigation would determine the next course of action for the state government and assured the media of an update.
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