Court jails 36-year-old woman for human trafficking

Efforts by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to eradicate incidence of human trafficking in Nigeria has yielded another result as a Benin High Court in Edo State presided over by Honourable Justice Alero Edodo Eruaga, sentenced Mrs. Vera Imoh, 12 months’ imprisonment for human trafficking.

In the suit No B/2C/2015, the convict, who lives on No 1 Adunwa Street, off Uwelu Road, Benin-city, was charged on a two – count charge of Procurement for Prostitution and facilitating activity for trafficking in persons.

The offence is contrary to the provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.

Mrs. Imoh had recruited a 16-year-old school drop – out of Uwulu Secondary School, Benin-city, in June 2015 for her brother, Solomon who lives in Mali.

She was promised a job in a boutique owned by Solomon, but on arrival in Mali, she was introduced into prostitution.

During the day, she worked as a sales girl in the boutique while at night, she worked as a prostitute. Besides, all her earnings were collected by Solomon.

In her ruling, Justice Alero Eruaga held that the convict was one of those denting the image of Edo State and Nigeria by recruiting young girls for prostitution. She added that the convict was not unaware of the kind of “job” the victim was going to do abroad.

But the judge gave the convict the option of paying N1million fine. The woman was sentenced on a two count charge for 12 months each which are to run concurrently, while the fine cumulative.

Reacting to the development, the Director General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, hailed the judgement, saying that justice will always be served.

She pointed out that the conviction of the 36-year old woman would serve as a deterrent to all individuals still involved in the crime of human trafficking, adding that there is no hiding place for such individuals.