The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has commenced an investigation into three workers accused of taking their employer’s two-year-old child with the intention of trafficking and selling him in Cross River State.

The incident reportedly occurred in Ogberia Ochoro community in Ogoja, where the suspects were apprehended after allegedly moving through several communities with the child.

Head of Operations of the Cross River Command of NAPTIP, Oba Joseph, who disclosed the development on Thursday in Calabar, said the agency received information about the incident on Monday.

According to Joseph, preliminary accounts indicated that the three suspects allegedly took the two-year-old from their employer and were attempting to move the child to another location for sale when they were intercepted.

He said the suspects claimed during questioning that they had worked for their employer for about three months without being paid and allegedly decided to take the child as retaliation and as a means of recovering the money they said was owed to them.

“They claimed they decided to traffic the child as revenge and to recover the money they said they were owed,” Joseph said.

The employer, however, reportedly denied owing the workers three months’ wages. According to NAPTIP, he maintained that their salaries had been paid except for August, which had not yet ended at the time of the incident.

Joseph said the alleged plan was thwarted after a farmer returning from his farm became suspicious of the suspects’ movement with the child and questioned them.

One of the suspects allegedly told the farmer that the two-year-old was his own child, but the explanation reportedly failed to convince him.

“The farmer who was not satisfied with their explanation raised an alarm, leading to the suspects’ arrest after they had crossed about four communities,” Joseph said.

NAPTIP said the three suspects were subsequently taken into custody while investigations commenced into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The agency is also attempting to establish the suspects’ actual ages after conflicting information emerged.

According to Joseph, community records identified the suspects as aged 18, 19 and 27, while the suspects themselves told NAPTIP that they were 16, 17 and 25 respectively.

The discrepancy has prompted the agency to seek assistance from their parents and other relevant sources to determine their correct ages.

Joseph explained that the issue could have implications for the prosecution, particularly if two of the suspects are eventually confirmed to be under 18.

If their claimed ages of 16 and 17 are established, he said, they could be treated as children in conflict with the law, requiring the case to be handled in accordance with the legal framework governing juvenile offenders.

NAPTIP nevertheless maintained that the age dispute would not stop its investigation into the alleged attempt to traffic the two-year-old.

The agency said investigations were continuing and that appropriate charges would be brought against the suspects upon completion of the probe, subject to the evidence gathered and the determination of their respective ages.

The allegations against the suspects have not been determined by a court, and they remain entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel _______________________________________________________________________

“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof

Two leading books on electronic evidence by Hon. Justice Professor Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, Rtd., PhD, FICMC, are now available for purchase. The publications, Electronic Evidence (Second Edition), With The Evidence Act, 2011 and Compendium Of Cases On Electronic Evidence, Volume II, 2020–2025, provide practical guidance, legal analysis and recent judicial authorities on electronic evidence in Nigeria.Order directly from the author here: https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/ _______________________________________________________________________

[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials

“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.

Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation

______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion. Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. ______________________________________________________________________