A middle-aged man in Adamawa State, Andrawus James, has allegedly confessed to plotting the abduction and sale of his 18-year-old niece for N7m.
James, a resident of Bai village in Yadim District, Fufure Local Government Area, was accused of arranging with a prospective buyer to take custody of the teenager in exchange for the agreed sum.
The suspect reportedly made the admission when he was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court 2 in Yola.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Dorcas Marvin, ordered that James be remanded in a correctional facility pending legal advice from the state Department of Prosecution.
During the arraignment, the prosecution counsel, ASP Ezra Bulus, tendered a First Information Report detailing how the alleged offence occurred.
According to the report, a man identified as Mohamed Buba of New Market, Ganye, reported the matter at the Divisional Police Headquarters on August 16, 2026.
The prosecution alleged that James had earlier approached Buba, informing him of his desire to make money by selling his niece.
The two men allegedly negotiated the price of the girl and agreed on arrangements for her delivery to the prospective buyer.
The prosecution said James subsequently contacted the teenager, who lived with her parents in Damare Ward, Yola South Local Government Area, and allegedly deceived her into believing that he had secured employment for her in Abuja.
He reportedly instructed her not to disclose the purported job opportunity to her parents or anyone else.
The prosecution further alleged that James later met the teenager and took her to Ganye instead of Abuja, telling her that she would be handed over to someone who would facilitate her journey to the Federal Capital Territory.
However, Buba reportedly alerted security personnel after becoming concerned about the alleged arrangement.
The suspect was subsequently arrested by security operatives shortly after arriving in Ganye with the teenager.
The case was adjourned pending further legal advice from the Department of Prosecution.