A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced two women to jail for human trafficking.
The convicts, Adesuwa Osaro and Orunmewegbe Omosede Esther, were arrested in a joint operation by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons and the British Government’s Joint Border Taskforce.
They were subsequently charged to court by NAPTIP for procuring three young women for exploitation, an act which is contrary to sections 18, 15(b) and 27 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration (TIPPEA) Act, 2015.
Upon arraignment in court, the suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges, but in the course of the trial, they changed their plea to guilty and the presiding Judge, Justice O. O. Oguntoyinbo, sentenced them to 30 and 24 months’ imprisonment respectively without any option of fine.
In a related development, the same Federal High Court in Lagos has also sentenced a woman, Risikat Ibrahim, to 12 years imprisonment for labour exploitation.
The suspect was arraigned by NAPTIP on a three-count charge of abduction from legal guardianship, movement and subjecting the victim to labour exploitation, acts contrary to under sections 19(a), 19(1) (b) and 22(1)(a) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2005, as amended.
Ibrahim abducted an eight-year-old from her legal guardian, took him to Seme and subjected the child to labour exploitation.
Upon her guilty plea, Justice Oguntoyinbo sentenced her to seven years imprisonment on the first charge and five years’ imprisonment for the second and third charges.
However, both sentences are to run concurrently.