A young woman, Ochechi Joseph, is currently in police custody in Enugu after selling her newborn baby to a medical doctor.

The medical doctor, who works at Moonlight Hospital and Maternity, Coal Camp, Enugu, Benedict Agbodache, has also been arrested.

The medical doctor was alleged to have bought the baby, a boy, for N300, 000. 00 from its mother and sold to a couple for N1, 000, 000. 00.

Agbodache is alleged to have bought the baby from Joseph after she was delivered of the baby in his facility, and subsequently sold the baby to one Ukamaka Onah.

Enugu State Police Commissioner Ahmad Abdulrahman, while confirming the incident to n Enugu Wednesday, said the mother of the baby was taken to the hospital by one Abubakar Idris, aka Buhari. He added that the suspects have been arrested and are helping the police in the investigations.

“The state command through the Central Police Station on March 5 arrested four suspects that were involved in baby sales and trafficking within Bunker, Coal Camp axis of Enugu. One of the suspects, Ochechi Joseph, got pregnant and was taken to Moonlight Hospital and Maternity by one Abubakar Idris, aka Buhari, where she was delivered of a baby boy.

“Dr. Agbodache of the said hospital/maternity later bought the baby at the sum of N300, 000 from her, and she used the sum of N45, 000 out of the money to buy a sewing machine.

“Through intelligence reports, the police arrested them. The doctor admitted to buying the baby from her mother, and selling the baby to one Ukamaka Onah at the sum of N1m. The baby has been rescued while investigations are ongoing with a view to arresting more suspects and bringing them to book.’’

Ukamaka’s husband Hyacinth, who was paraded, told our correspondent that, “It is true that we paid the money for the child, but it was meant for the adoption of the baby. We were made to believe that the doctor in question works for the agency in-charge of child adoption in the state. So we thought that we were doing a genuine business. We needed a male child. We have two daughters and needed a son; that was why we went to the hospital for the adoption.” The doctor however declined to comments.

The mother of the child confessed using N45, 000 from the N300, 000 to buy a sewing machine. Exhibits recovered from the suspects include a sewing machine and the sum of N700, 000. 00 which the police commissioner said the culprits offered to the police as bride to escape prosecution.

The police commissioner, while expressing surprise that a medical doctor could engage in such act, warned criminals in the state to desist from vices, adding that with the community policing initiatives of the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, criminal activities would soon be a thing of the past in the state.