A family in Ebonyi State has accused security officials and government agencies of conspiring to sell their grandchild for ₦25 million under the guise of adoption, sparking outrage and demands for accountability. SaharaReporters.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Philip Nweze, elder brother to Nwanneka Nweze (the mother of the baby), alleged that police officers from the Juvenile and Women Centre (JWC) in the Ebonyi State Police Command abducted his sister while she was pregnant and held her in a police clinic. There, she delivered a baby boy who was allegedly sold without the family’s knowledge or consent.
Nweze said the police officers, led by SP Loveth Uche, offered Nwanneka ₦700,000 to disappear from town and cut off communication with her family, supposedly to prevent them from tracing the baby.
The family further accused officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) of obstructing investigations and attempting to shield the perpetrators. According to Nweze, pressure has been mounted on Nwanneka to change her account of events, allegedly to cover up the sale.
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The case gained public attention in early July when the family filed a formal petition against four security officers, accusing them of child trafficking, abduction, and conspiracy. Following media reports, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), initially handling the case, transferred it to NAPTIP for further investigation.
However, conflicting statements from state officials have only deepened the family’s concerns.
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ikeuwa Omebeh, claimed the baby was not sold but voluntarily placed for adoption because the mother could not care for him. However, he could not confirm the child’s current location. Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Felicia Nwankpuma, denied any sale, insisting the baby is safe and currently in the ministry’s custody.
“I don’t know where the ₦25 million story is coming from,” she said. “The child is with us, and we are taking care of him.”
But Mr. Nweze insists the family was never consulted. “When did adoption include paying ₦700,000 to the mother and hiding her from her family for over three months?” he asked. “Why was the ministry unaware of the baby’s whereabouts earlier, only to now claim he is in their custody?”
He also questioned why the commissioner has not responded to messages or acknowledged petitions submitted by the family. “This child was taken without consent. Nwanneka has a family. We’ve raised her other two children. This was never about her being unfit; it’s about manipulation and cover-up.”
The family is demanding the immediate return of the child and a full, transparent investigation to bring those responsible to justice.
