people of this hazy town in the hills call the practice, “Money Woman Marriage”.
The Becheve tribe is made up of 17 sister tribes who live in the thick mountainous terrain of
Obanliku Local Government in Cross River State , an area that is also home to the former tourist attraction, Obudu Cattle Ranch.
Together, these tribes practice an ancient tradition where young girls are given out as “money wives”, sometimes before they are born, in exchange for some lump sum or to settle a previous debt, or further still, to offset some gifts or handout.

These wives are essentially handed out to their husbands as chattels, to do as they please, while the family is absolved of the debt or continues to enjoy access to some benefit.
Sometimes, the relatives of the money wife continue to visit her new husband (owner) to pick up gifts and money.
Apart from the ‘main man’ who gives out the girl into ‘Money Marriage’ the relatives of the girl’s mother are free to go and collect stuff from their ‘in-law’. Anything offered them during their visit is given monetary value and recorded by their in-law (the man who is marrying the girl).

read more here: http://opera.pulse.ng/gist/pop-culture/becheve-young-money-wives-sold-into-marriage-to-repay-debts-id8352722.html