An Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has sentenced a man, Bassey Edem Akpan, to five years in prison for child stealing.
Akpan was among six people accused of conspiring to steal a child and sell him multiple times across different states seven years ago.
The victim, an indigene of Akwa Ibom State, was first sold in Abia State for ₦100,000 before being transferred to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the price increased to ₦300,000 and later ₦400,000.
The syndicate subsequently took the child to Abuja, where he was sold for ₦1m.
Akpan stood trial alongside five other defendants, who reportedly absconded after being granted bail, leaving him as the only accused person to face the full trial.
The case initially began in Itu and later moved through Ibiono Ibom before reaching Uyo, where it started afresh.
In his judgment, Justice Okon Okon held that the prosecution had established its case against Akpan and found him guilty of child stealing.
The judge consequently sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment, effective from the date of judgment.
