A 30-year-old Nigerian pastor convicted for human trafficking will serve two years in the correctional centre.
Pastor Kelechi Nwankwo was arranged on a two-count charge No: FHC/PH/28c/2018 by the Uyo zonal command of NAPTIP for harbouring a 17-year-old pregnant girl and attempting to sell a two-day-old baby.
Justice Emmanuel Obile who presided over the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Tuesday said the offence contravened the provision of Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.
Obile noted that Nwankwo harboured the pregnant girl until she delivered the baby whom the pastor attempted to sell after two days of delivery.
The Zonal Commander National Agency for the prohibition of trafficking in persons (NAPTIP), Uyo, Mr Nduka Nwanwenne stated this in a statement issued in Uyo and made available to the newsmen on Wednesday.
“During the trial, prosecution called several witness before closing his case at that point, the defence made no case submission which prosecution objected.
“The court ruled in favour of prosecution and requested that they enter their defence. It was at that point that the defendant opted to plead guilty on both charges.
“Consequently, the trial judge sentenced the defendant to two years’ imprisonment on both cases without option of fine,” Nwanwenne said.
The zonal commander said the sentence, however, would run concurrently.
