Two 30-year-old men, including a father that wanted to sell his son for
money to organise burial of his mother, were, yesterday, arraigned in
Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court, Ibadan.
The names of the accused were given as Haruna Sule, the boy’s father,
and his friend, Abdulfatai Quadri. They were arraigned on a two-count
charge of conspiracy and alleged attempt to sell his six-year-old son.
The bizarre incident happened at Agbowo area of
Ogbomoso on June 21. According to the prosecutor, Sergeant Oriola James,
the boy’s father and his friend, AbdulFatai allegedly conspired to sell
the boy.
One of the accused, Haruna, reportedly told the Police that his mother
died and he was desperately looking for money to perform a befitting
burial for her. While pondering over what to do, he said he called his
friend, Abdulfatai, to look for a buyer for his son, Saka Sule, in order
to raise money for his mother’s burial.
He explained further that his friend called to inform him that he had
finally got a willing buyer for the innocent boy. However, the would-be
buyer informed the Police of the plan.
When the charges were read to the accused, they pleaded not guilty.
Chief Magistrate Taiwo Oladiran granted the accused N100,000 bail with
two reliable sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to August 31
for further hearing.