A Benin High Court on Monday ordered that a 33-year-old man, one
Monday Ugbo, and his alleged accomplice, identified as Omorogiewa
Rhoda, be remanded in prison custody for alleged human
trafficking.
The presiding judge, Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga, ordered the
remand after the accused persons were arraigned for various
offences contrary to the provisions of the Trafficking in Persons
(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
The prosecution alleged that the first accused person, Ugbo,
prepared to further an act of trafficking in persons, facilitated
foreign travel, which promoted prostitution, and participated as an
accomplice in the commission of an offence, contrary to Section 13
(4a) and (4c) of the Act.
The second accused, Rhoda aka Mama Bobo, was charged with
conspiracy, contrary to and punishable under Section 27 of the
Act.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the
charges.
Ugbo was said to have been arrested while attempting to collect
a registration fee of N50,000 from a prospective victim, who he
promised to take to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Two other victims were said to have been rescued at his
residence while planning to traffic them out the country.
The State Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Nduka Nwanwenne, who
confirmed the arrest, said that on arrival and commencement of
work, the victim had been expected to pay the sum of $22,000 to her
madam and another $1,000 to the first accused person.
“The first accused person, Monday Ugbo, also told another victim
who was rescued, that she was going to pay the sum of €26,000,
apart from taking an oath with her body parts to ensure that she
would not run away from her madam,” Nwanwenne said in a
statement.
“The victim, who actually administered the oath, had a bird
placed on her chest during the oath-taking ceremony,” he
added.
In her reaction, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Julie
Okah-Donli, described the court order as a welcome
development.
Okah-Donli also reiterated the commitment of the agency to
eradicate human trafficking in the country.
A Benin High Court on Monday ordered that a 33-year-old man, one
Monday Ugbo, and his alleged accomplice, identified as Omorogiewa
Rhoda, be remanded in prison custody for alleged human
trafficking.
The presiding judge, Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga, ordered the
remand after the accused persons were arraigned for various
offences contrary to the provisions of the Trafficking in Persons
(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
The prosecution alleged that the first accused person, Ugbo,
prepared to further an act of trafficking in persons, facilitated
foreign travel, which promoted prostitution, and participated as an
accomplice in the commission of an offence, contrary to Section 13
(4a) and (4c) of the Act.
The second accused, Rhoda aka Mama Bobo, was charged with
conspiracy, contrary to and punishable under Section 27 of the
Act.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the
charges.
Ugbo was said to have been arrested while attempting to collect
a registration fee of N50,000 from a prospective victim, who he
promised to take to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
Two other victims were said to have been rescued at his
residence while planning to traffic them out the country.
The State Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Nduka Nwanwenne, who
confirmed the arrest, said that on arrival and commencement of
work, the victim had been expected to pay the sum of $22,000 to her
madam and another $1,000 to the first accused person.
“The first accused person, Monday Ugbo, also told another victim
who was rescued, that she was going to pay the sum of €26,000,
apart from taking an oath with her body parts to ensure that she
would not run away from her madam,” Nwanwenne said in a
statement.
“The victim, who actually administered the oath, had a bird
placed on her chest during the oath-taking ceremony,” he
added.
In her reaction, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Julie
Okah-Donli, described the court order as a welcome
development.
Okah-Donli also reiterated the commitment of the agency to
eradicate human trafficking in the country.
Read more https://nairalaw.com/court-remands-two-for-alleged-human-trafficking/