Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan on Tuesday sentenced a couple to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine for human trafficking.
Abdulmaleek convicted Idowu Folorunso, 37, and his wife, Titilayo, and sentenced them to seven years imprisonment each.
She said the prosecution provided overwhelming oral, documentary and other substantial evidence against the couple.
Abdulmaleek said: “Therefore, Idowu and Titilayo are sentenced to seven years imprisonment each for count one and seven year’s imprisonment for count two, without any option of fine and with hard labour.
“The sentences are, however, to run concurrently.”
The judge held that Idowu and Titilayo lied to one Bidemi Adeshina that there were teaching opportunities for girls in Libya and that she should utilise them since she had National Certificate of Education.
The couple wept as they prayed the court to temper justice with mercy.
Idowu and Titilayo were arraigned on a two-count charge of unlawful procurement of person and organising foreign trip for the purpose of prostitution.
The Folorunsos committed the crime on May 20, 2014 at Odo-Oba Elere, Ibadan, according to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other Related Matters.
In her evidence earlier, Adeshina said Idowu and Titilayo lured her into prostitution in Libya where she became infected with HIV/AIDS.
Adeshina testified that the couple told her that three other girls would be joining her for the teaching job in Libya.
She said she travelled from Ibadan through Kano, to Niger and then Libya and found herself in “prostitution”.
The witness said within eight months, the Folorunsos made her to abort four pregnancies.
She added that she contracted HIV/AIDS.
She also said that the couple did not give her anything from the proceeds of her prostitution.
The Eagle online, reports that the offences contravened Sections 15 (a) (b) of the NAPTIP Act, 2004.
The offences are equally punishable under the section.
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