THREE PERSONS SENTENCED TO 2YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
In
Makurdi, a Federal High Court yesterday in two separate judgments delivered by
Justice Hassan Dikko sentenced three persons to two years imprisonment each for
human trafficking.
In
a statement to Leadership signed by NAPTIP Head, Press and Public Relations
Josiah Emerole,it stated that the human traffickers are Friday Okache (23yrs)
from Benue State, Anucha Blessing (28yrs) from Abia State and Agatu Blessing
(25yrs) from Benue State.
The
statement revealed that the convicts were however, given options of fine with
Friday and Blessing given N350, 000 each, while Agatu Blessing was given
an option of N250, 000 only.
The
statement revealed that the convicts had been arraigned in Court by the
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in two
separate suits after they were arrested for the trafficking of 4 girls and
charged under Section 13 (2) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition)
Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 which prohibits all acts of trafficking
in persons.
In
the case of Friday Okache and Anucha Blessing, they were arraigned in court for
the recruitment of 2 16 year old girls for sexual exploitation contrary to
Section 13 (2) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and
Administration, Act, 2015
The
statement further revealed that On the 17th June, 2017, Friday Okache was
arrested by NAPTIP Operatives based on intelligence reports on the trafficking
of the two girls to Davies Hotel, Lugbe, Abuja, for the purpose of inducing
them to engage in prostitution.
“Upon
arrest, he confessed to the crime and stated that he recruited the girls at the
behest of Anucha Blessing”. On her arrest, Aucha Blessing admitted to have
committed the offence.
The
Accused persons were, arraigned on June 29,2017 on a case with charge number
FHC/MKD/CR/68/17 in which they pleaded guilty to the charge.
On
the case of Aguta Blessing (25years old) from Benue State, she was also charged
for the recruitment of 2 17 year old girls for sexual exploitation contrary to
Section 13 (2) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and
Administration, Act, 2015
The
Accused was on June 22, 2017 arrested while in company of the victims on board a
bus heading to Okene, Kogi State by operatives of NAPTIP in a sting operation.
Upon
arrest, she claimed to have recruited the girls to work on her farm in Auchi,
Edo State. However, she could not tell investigators where her farm was
located. Upon further interrogations, she confessed to have recruited the girls
to work as prostitutes in King’s Garden Hotel, Auchi, Edo State, where she also
works as a prostitute.
When
she was arraigned on the 29th June, 2017 in a Suit with charge number
FHC/MKD/CR/69/17, she pleaded guilty to the charge.
Delivering
judgment in the two cases today, Hon. Justice Hassan Dikko in separate
judgments convicted and sentenced the Accused persons.
In
her reaction, the Director-General of NAPTIP expressed satisfaction with the
development. She commended the presiding Judge for the accelerated hearing
given to the case. She however, urged all judicial officers across the country
especially High Court Judges to always give accelerated hearing to human
trafficking cases.
Source-Leadership
Newspaper.
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