Man sells five-year-old child to couple in Rivers

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A High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced one Promise Thompson to death by hanging for armed robbery and child theft.

Thompson and his accomplice, Beatrice Ogbunka, stood trial on a three-count of armed robbery, kidnapping and child theft.

They were accused of shooting one Chidiebere Ogbugu and stealing his five-year-old child.

The incident was said to have occurred on October 25, 2018, in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Ogbunka was however said to have fled after she was granted bail by the police.

The presiding judge, Justice Sika Henry-Aprioku, in his judgment said the prosecution counsel proved that Thompson took the infant to Abia State and sold him to a syndicate who also sold the boy to another syndicate.

Justice Henry-Aprioku also sentenced one Chisom Lucky to seven years imprisonment, while her husband, Lucky, bagged a 10-year sentence for child theft, for buying the child from Thompson and selling him off afterwards.