by Isi Esene

Two female medical doctors, Sandra Odimega and Azuka Odike have been arrested in Imo state for their alleged involvement in child trafficking.

The two medical practitioners were arrested with a couple, Prince Sunday and Sarah Okorie in the process of selling the baby.

Reports say Odimega was arrested in her hospital, Favour Hospital and Maternity Home, Awo-Omama in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, while Dr. Odike was arrested in her hospital, Angels and Mercy Hospital, situated at No.19 Ajiwe Street, Aba, Abia State.

Read the Nigerian Eye report below:

Parading the two registered medical doctors yesterday at the command headquarters alongside the couple and parents of the rescued baby, Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Elvis Abanga, said the suspects were arrested sometime in July after a tip off.

He said both the parents of the baby, Dr. Sandra and the buyer of the baby, Ebere Ngozi Gloria, who lives in Onitsha, Anambra State, were arrested in the process of selling the baby.

He said: “One of the doctors took custody of the mother of the baby when she was pregnant and immediately the child was delivered, the father conspired with the doctor to sell the baby at the cost of N500, 000.”

He continued: “The doctor immediately engaged one Ogechi Ahanna, who also contacted the prospective buyers and when eventually the baby was sold, the parents of the baby were given N300, 000 out of the N500, 000 paid for the baby.”

In a related development, the ambush squad attached to the command also arrested one Pastor Emmanuel Onu from Ezinihitte Local Government Area of the state who impregnated one Nkeiru Chukwuemeka and conspired to sell the baby after it was delivered.

The police spokesman said that the pastor took the pregnant girl, who he promised to marry, to one Dr. Azuka Odika in Abia State and immediately on delivery, the doctor and the pastor including the nurses conspired to sell the baby to an unknown person.

He alleged that “the mother of the baby was told by the doctor and the nurses few seconds after delivery that her child was dead without allowing her to see the dead body.”

When interviewed, Odika confirmed that the baby was sold against medical ethics but on the order of the pastor, adding that she was not part of the deal to sell the baby.