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A 30-year-old man, Haruna Sule allegedly tried to sell his six-year old son with the intention of using the proceeds to finance his mother’s burial.
Sule and his friend Abdulfatai Quadri, 30, were on Wednesday arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrate Court 5 in Ibadan on two counts charge of conspiracy and attempt to sell a boy.
They pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Oriola James told the court that the accused persons on June 21 at Agbowo area, Ogbomoso in Oyo state conspired to sell the boy for an undisclosed amount. He said the offences contravened sections 516 and 509 Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.
Haruna, in his confessional statement, was said to have told the police that he decided to sell his son in order to raise money for his mother’s burial. He said he was the one who called his friend, Abdulfatai to help him look for a buyer who is willing to buy the boy as the mother’s funeral date approached.
He stated that his friend had called to inform him that he had found a buyer but only to be arrested at the point where the money was to be collected.
He said the prospective buyer was the one who called the police for their arrest
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Taiwo Oladiran in his ruling granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till August 31 for further hearing.