A retired nursing officer named Wilfred Egahae, 62, and a woman named Juliet Agbonifo, 45, were paraded by the Edo State Police Command on Monday for allegedly buying and selling a nine-day-old baby girl, respectively.
The Ogida Police Division arrested the woman on a tip, according to the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, who also spoke on behalf of the accused.
“The divisional police officer in charge of Ogida Police Division received information that a certain woman, Juliet Agbonifo, 45, had obtained a child at Ogida area,” he stated. “The woman was mobilised to the scene and arrested.”
“Wilfred Egahae, 62, sold the youngster to the woman for N400,000, and the woman helped the police find him. The kid is nine days old and the mother’s identity is still unknown, he continued.
He stated that following a thorough investigation, the suspects would face charges in court.
Speaking to reporters, Wilfred said that one Prosper Peter gave birth in his maternity clinic, where the child was purchased, though he denied being aware of the transaction.
“I am currently the manager of Uyiosa Clinic and Maternity in Erunse Street, off Ekhiakpen, Benin, where the woman gave birth after I retired as a chief nursing officer.
“The mother, Prosper Peter, delivered in our facility and the buyer is linked to one of our nurses who connected the two of them. I was not part of the negotiations but I heard that the money was N400,000. I called today and she said she was coming to the station but she hasn’t come.”
Juliet claimed that she had to purchase a baby since she needed one.
“I bought the baby at the cost of N400,000 and I paid another N20,000 at the hospital and discharged bills.
