The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has suspended its Chief Driver, Akwaowo Jonah Emmanuel, attached to the Zonal Office in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for gross sexual violation and exploitation of minors and victims of previous sexual exploitation in their custody.
The suspension followed a report of the Interim Committee set up by the management of the Agency to investigate the matter.
This will be pending the final decision of the Senior Staff Committee to deliberate and recommend appropriate sanction for the offender in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules.
The Commission in a letter, referenced: “NAPTIP/PwP/462/T1,” titled: “Update and Proactive Response by the Management of the NAPTIP on the Allege Sexual Harassment of Victim by Mr. Jonah Akwaowo Emmanuel,” dated February 10, 2025 and made available to newsmen in Uyo by its Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, read in parts: “That the attention of NAPTIP, has been drawn to the above incident and the various inquiries by the media partners on the matter.
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“That I am directed to point out that due to the Director General, Binta Adamu Bello’s zero tolerance to such behavior that constitutes gross misconduct by any officer, the Agency promptly reacted and below are the updates on the matter.
“The officer in question was on January 16, 2025 issued a query.
“A panel of inquiry comprising of officers of the Command, was constituted to investigate the matter thoroughly.
“The panel had several sessions during which all parties involved were invited.
“It interrogated the officer involved, took testimonies from victim as well as other relevant persons, and submitted a report to the Headquarters as directed.
“Based on the report of the Committee, the management subsequently suspended the officer via a letter dated February 6, 2025 from office without pay.”
Earlier, an Abuja-based Human Rights Crusader, Jacob B. Udobang, of Jacob B. Udobang Associates, had petitioned the Agency exposing some of the illicit activities of some staff of the Uyo Zonal office and threatened that the matter should be transferred to the headquarters for the Director General, Binta Bello, to investigate impartially.
Udobang said: “We are watching and also synergizing with our partners for a world press conference except we receive a positive response from the commission.”
Bello appreciated the concerns of the stakeholders in the matter, pledging that the officer concerned shall be made to face the full wrath of the law, including prosecution, if found guilty of the offence.
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