Imo Assembly moves to prohibit baby factories

The Imo State House of Assembly on Wednesday began moves to check the incidences of baby racketeering, factories and every other arrangement by which babies are sold. The bill was sponsored by the Committee Chairman on Women Affairs, Adaku Iheoma, representing (APC Aboh Mbaise). Presenting the bill on the floor of the House, Ihuoma said its objective was to criminalise every form of baby racketeering which had not been captured in the Child Rights Act. Iheoma stated that the bill was expected to prohibit the sale of babies under any guise as well as protect the rights of children from conception to birth. “The catering for pregnant women with the aim of selling their babies upon their delivery will also be prohibited.” Iheoma, who is also the Majority Leader of the House, also pointed out that the incident of baby factories had become rampant. The bill recommended a prison term of five years or an option of N5 million fine, the shutdown of the premises used for the business and the confiscation of the property by the government. She called for a speedy passage of the bill to dissuade perpetrators of the heinous crime from continuing. -