Niger court drops politically charged baby-trafficking case

A court in Niger threw out charges on Friday against members of the political and social elite accused of trafficking newborn babies. The 20 arrests, which started last June, included senior politicians and their wives but the opposition argued it was a plot to discredit its members. Police said they want wanted to question Hama Amadou, the main challenger to President Mahamadou Issoufou. Amadou fled the West African country, protesting his innocence. The accused, including Hama’s wife, were charged with “supposition of a child” – the act of falsely claiming parenthood of a child. But a criminal court ruled on Friday it did not have the jurisdiction to try the case.

The criminal case collapsed like a house of cards. There are no longer any criminal proceedings against anyone and my clients are free.

Mossi Boubacar, a lawyer for Hama’s family

In their decision, the judges accepted the defence position that the state needed to first establish the parentage of the allegedly trafficked children in a civil court before criminal charges could be brought. According to the prosecution, around 30 children were born to women in neighbouring Nigeria for the sole purpose of being sold to wealthy couples in Niger. Assistant state prosecutor Samna Chaibou said his team had appealed against the ruling “so the case will immediately go before the court of appeal”. Political tensions have risen in Niger since 2013 when Hama, once part of Issoufou’s coalition, fell out with the president.

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