30-yr-old man jailed five years for selling 9-yr-old child for N10m

Isah Aliyu, a 30-yr-old man has been sentenced to a five years jail term by A Niger State magistrate court sitting in Minna, the state capital, for attempting to sell his 9-yr-old child for N10m to one Mallam Magaji.

The incident occurred on November 15 when the buyer, Mallam Magaji however agreed to buy the child for N7m instead of N10m which he promised to pay twice. But Isah Aliyu who want the money to be paid once later agreed to the deal but little did he know Mallam Magaji would head to report to the police.

Instead of the buyer to come with half of the money afterwards, the man came with police who arrested Aliyu and was charged to court under the clause prohibiting selling of child in the Niger State Child’s Right Act.

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.