A Niger State magistrate court sitting in Minna, the
state capital, has sentenced one Isah Aliyu to five
years imprisonment for intending to sell his 9-year-
old child for N10m.
The 30-year-old man attributed his action to
poverty.
The incident occurred on November 15 when the
buyer, one Mallam Magaji, agreed to buy the child
for N7 million.
But the buyer 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 pleaded guilty and was summarily sentenced
to five years imprisonment by Chief Magistrate
Hassan Mohammed.
When asked why he intended to sell his son, the
convict 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 sentenced Aliyu to five years imprisonment
without option of fine.