George Maduabuchi, a middle-aged palm tree harvester from Owerrinta, Abia State is currently in police custody for allegedly selling his 14-month-old son for N300K, Punch reports. The suspect was said to have connived with another man, Obinna Erondu to execute the devious act.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joshak Habila, who paraded the suspected criminals on Thursday, said, “Luck ran out on Maduabuchi when the wife alerted the police on his questionable role when the baby fell ill and he took him out and did not return with him.”
However, the father of four told reporters that he had no plans of selling his son, but only took him to a herbalist when he became ill. “The herbalist gave me money and told me that he could not heal the baby. I therefore left the baby in the herbalist’s home.” This explanation, which sounds implausible was challenged by his wife, Eberechi, who said her husband took their son, who had a cough to the herbalist in question but he returned back with bundles of money instead of coming back home with the child. She said:“When I demanded explanations on the whereabouts of our son, he could not offer any convincing answer.”
Maduabuchi ‘s currently pregnant wife then raised an alarm, which alerted the neighbors who then assisted in arresting her husband before he was turned over to the police. The suspect then led police to the herbalist’s house at Owerrinta where the boy was recovered.
