The Anambra state government has uncovered a child trafficking case in the state in which a self-acclaimed woman of God allegedly sold a newborn for B2.5 million and handed over N300, 000 to the mother.

The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare in the state, Chinyere Onyekesi, stated this in a statement posted on the ministry’s official Facebook page.

Mrs Onyekesi said, Thursday, that the self-acclaimed woman of God, Precious Uchenna, earlier accommodated the young mother after her family rejected her.

The commissioner said that, rather than report the young mother’s condition to the appropriate authorities, Mrs. Uche allegedly began negotiating and facilitating the transfer of the infant to her sister without the involvement of the ministry or the Nigeria Police Force.

She condemned the incident and stated that no amount of parental consent, private agreement, or informal documentation could legalise the sale or transfer of a child outside the provisions of the law.

Mrs. Onyekesi noted that issues relating to child welfare, adoption, and custody must always follow due legal process.

“The issue I am seeing here is a case of child trafficking,” she told the suspect in a video clip which accompanied the statement.

Mrs. Uche was heard in the clip confirming that she sent the young mother N300,000 out of the N2.5 million realised from the sale of the newborn.

She did not provide answers to questions regarding her reason for withholding the balance.

The commissioner then informed Mrs. Uche and the buyer, who was also in her office, that the ministry was about to hand them over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.  (Premium Times)