The National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) has added to its record the conviction of Eight (8) traffickers within a space of one week at the Federal and State High Courts of Jos, Ilorin, Uyo, Lagos and Sokoto respectively.

The Director Prosecution and Legal Department of the Agency, Barrister Opotu Shaibu who disclosed this described the convictions, which bring the number of traffickers convicted by the Agency to fifty-four since inception as a landmark achievement.  According to him, recording eight convictions within one week is a no mean feat, which is a testimonial of the Agency’s determination to make the country free from the strangle-hood of criminal networks.

The summary of the convictions are as follows:

A)           AGF VS. (1) EKUNDAYO ODUYEMI (M) (2) MURNA ILIYA (F)

                JOS HIGH COURT, PLATEAU STATE

                 This is a case where the 2^nd accused person procured one victim, aged 17 years old who is deaf and dumb and handed her over to the 1^st accused person who had carnal knowledge of her and forced her to do street begging in FCT, Benue, Cross River and Rivers States.  The 1^st accused person was also collecting the proceeds of the street begging from the victim.  The victim’s parents were never informed before she was unlawfully taken away by the 2^nd  accused person.

 2.            The Hounourable court appointed an independent interpreter who translated the proceedings from English to sign language and vis versa.  The prosecution called 4 witnesses while the accused persons called 4 witnesses. 

 3.            The presiding judge, Justice P.D. Damulack of High Court No. 3,  in his well considered judgment delivered on the 25^th May, 2009 convicted both the 1^st and 2^nd accused persons.  The court also on the same date sentenced the 1^st accused person to 2 years imprisonment each in respect of three (3) counts though to run concurrently,  while the 2^nd accused person was sentenced to six (6) months imprisonment.  There was no option of fine.

 (B)          AGF VS. GANIYU ISHOLA (M)

                ILORIN HIGH COURT, KWARA STATE

                 This is a case involving a 13 – year – old pupil who was unlawfully detained by the accused person who is a herbalist by profession for 40 days and was sexually abused resulting to her getting pregnant.  The case was tried by the High Court of Justice sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State.  The trial judge was elevated to the Court of Appeal after the accused person was arraigned.  The case was subsequently assigned to another judge.  The prosecution called 4 witnesses and the Defence called 2 witnesses.  At the conclusion of the case the matter was adjourned for judgment.  The presiding judge, Justice M.O. Adewara of High Court N. 3  delivered judgment on the 28^th of May, 2008.  The accused person was convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment on the 9 counts to run concurrently.  The conviction was without option of fine.

 (C)          AGF VS. EFFIONG EFFIONG (M)

                FEDERAL HIGH COURT UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE

                 The accused person was charged to court at the Federal High Court Uyo for procuring a 16 year old girl for prostitution.  The accused person, Effiong Effiong (male) aged 26 years pleaded guilty to the 3 counts charge. 

 2.            The presiding judge, Justice E. S. Chukwu, convicted the accused person on all the 3 counts and sentenced him to two years imprisonment without option of fine.  The judgment was delivered on the 28^th of May, 2009.

 (D)          AGF VS. ENDURANCE UCHENDU (F)

                FEDERAL HIGH COURT, SOKOTO

                The accused person was charged to court for the procurement of a victim and organizing foreign travel for prostitution.  The accused person was arraigned on a one count charge on the 2^nd of June 2009.  The accused person who was pregnant and also nursing a baby pleaded guilty to the one count charge.  The presiding judge, Justice Okeke convicted and sentenced her to 3 months imprisonment without option of fine. 

(E)          AGF VS (1)  ELELE BILOKO (F)  (2)  JOSHUA EBOROD (M)  (3) HELEN ONI (F)

             FEDERAL HIGH COURT, LAGOS BEFORE, JUSTICE TIJJANI ABUBAKAR

                 The three accused persons were charged for procuring under aged girls for prostitution, taking a child out of the lawful guardianship, and having unlawful carnal knowledge of the victims and keeping brothel.  The three accused persons were convicted and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment by the presiding judge, Justice Tijjani Abubakar each without option of fine.