A lawyer, Barrister Solomon Igbiaye, and his wife, Abigail Igbiaye, have been arrested in Warri, Delta State, over the alleged sale of a newborn baby three years after the child’s mother was reportedly told that she had died.
The couple were reportedly arrested and taken to the Ekpan Police Station on Wednesday after the mother raised an alarm upon allegedly discovering that her daughter, whom she believed had died shortly after birth in 2023, was still alive.
A woman identified as Mary, also known as Bridget, was also reportedly linked to the alleged arrangement and arrested alongside the couple.
According to a source familiar with the case, Abigail became pregnant in 2023 after returning to her village in Jos, Plateau State, following the alleged abandonment of the pregnancy by the man responsible.
The source claimed that a woman from Abigail’s village offered to take her to Warri, where she was allegedly received by Igbiaye’s wife, who promised to provide care until she gave birth.
Days before the delivery, Abigail was reportedly taken to a clinic in Warri, where she underwent a Caesarean section and gave birth to a baby girl.
The source alleged that although a nurse showed Abigail the newborn shortly after delivery, she was later told by Bridget that the baby had died.
Abigail reportedly became suspicious after she was allegedly denied information about the child’s burial. She was subsequently taken to an abandoned building in the Shaguolo area of Ekpan, according to the source.
The source further alleged that Abigail later struggled to care for herself and eventually returned to Jos after reportedly receiving assistance to travel there.
Her suspicions were said to have intensified after a domestic worker identified as Kindness, who allegedly worked at the lawyer’s residence, reportedly informed her that the baby had been taken to the lawyer’s home.
Kindness allegedly sent Abigail a photograph of the child and told her that the baby bore a strong resemblance to her.
The development reportedly prompted Abigail to question the circumstances surrounding the alleged death of her daughter.
The source alleged that Igbiaye’s wife paid Bridget ₦166,000 in connection with the arrangement, while Abigail allegedly received no money.
The lawyer, his wife and Bridget have been accused of conspiring over the alleged transfer of the child. However, the claims surrounding the birth, disappearance and subsequent whereabouts of the baby remain subject to police investigation.
The suspects were reportedly transferred to the Effurun Area Command for further investigation.
The baby was also reportedly rescued and is currently in police custody, according to the source.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, had yet to respond to messages seeking confirmation of the arrests and the reported rescue of the child as of the time of filing this report.
