Niger speaker in baby trafficking allegations

The speaker of Niger’s parliament has fled the country after a parliamentary committee agreed he could be arrested over a baby-trafficking scandal.

Hama Amadou, considered a presidential contender in 2016, says the allegations are politically motivated.
His second wife and 16 other people were arrested in June accused of illegally buying new-borns from “baby factories” in south-eastern Nigeria. Some 30 children are at the centre of the baby-trafficking allegations.
All of those accused have denied any wrong-doing.
The babies are allegedly sold for thousands of dollars each.
The National Assembly’s top committee, which includes deputy speakers and the heads of parliamentary committees, met on Wednesday and agreed that police could arrest and question Mr Amadou over the allegations.
Abdou Labo, who was sacked as agriculture minister, and arrested on Saturday in connection with the scandal lost his immunity from prosecution as he is not an MP.
Credit: BBC