LATEST DEVELOPMENT ON YERIMA’S CASE

The Executive Secretary of the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) Barrister Simon Chuzi Egede said, the Agency has concluded thorough investigation on Senator Ahmad Yerima’s marriage saga. 

Speaking to some journalists today 6th July 2010 in Abuja, the Executive Secretary said that the available evidence we have gathered has established a prima facie case to prosecute the suspect for the offence of child marriage, which was conducted in Abuja.  It is pertinent to say that there is no evidence to establish sexual abuse or exploitation charges against the suspect to bring the case under the purview of NAPTIP. 

The Executive Secretary of the National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP), Barrister Simon Chuzi Egede has commended the United Kingdom on their strong support and collaborative effort in combating the scourge of human trafficking, in Nigeria and West Africa. Egede who made reference to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) executed by Nigeria and United Kingdom government, said it has yielded the strengthening of law enforcement relationship between NAPTIP and United Kingdom Agencies such as SOCA and Metropolitan Police all working on anti human trafficking issues. 

The NAPTIP boss who made this statement while receiving the United Kingdom Minister on Crime Reduction, Mr. Alan Campbell at the Agency’s Headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. He reassured the Minister of the readiness of the Agency and Nigeria government to continue to create condition that will disable human trafficking operations and activities in Nigeria and beyond. Earlier in his speech, the UK Minister on Crime Reductions, Mr. Alan Campbell lauded Nigerian efforts in combating the crime of human trafficking and urged it not to relent in the fight. He further stated that the United Kingdom would like to learn some things from Nigeria into their own system in combating the scourge.  Commenting also on the visit, the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Bob Dewar lauded the Agency efforts in empowering the victims through skills acquisitions, which was brought to the fore in the major public awareness project in Benin- the race against human trafficking.

  NIGERIA has been upgraded from a Tier 2 list to a Tier 1 status by the United Sates government in its 2009 Annual Global Trafficking Report having met the minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking”. The US Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Clinton said the effort of government of Nigeria is commendable and its cumulative achievement over the past few years to combat human trafficking has not been left unnoticed, she made this statement at the Department of States annual Trafficking in Persons report in a public event at Washington D.C Speaking during the press briefing, the Executive Secretary Barrister Simon Chuzi Egede congratulated the Federal Government for achieving this feat, by its strict compliance with the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.

 The Federal High Court Sitting in Sokoto State of Nigeria on 8^th 0f December, 2009 ordered the confiscation and transfer of monies seized from two traffickers; Gladys Joy Okonta (f) & Jonah Asarimwan (m) to the victims of Trafficking Trust Fund Established under the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Law Enforcement and Administration Act 2003 as amended.  A board was inaugurated in May 2009 by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Michael Kaase Aoandoaka to oversee the management of the Funds Seize from Traffickers for the welfare and rehabilitation of Victims.               

This provision in the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other related Matters (NAPTIP) law  has been commended by Local and international Partners. According to the Executive Secretary, Mr. Simon Chuzi Egede, this is the first time the assets and monies of traffickers trace to the commission of the crime of TIP has been Successfully transferred to the Victims of Trafficking Trust Fund. This has been regarded as a tremendous achievement for NAPTIP. The trafficking fund is also empowered to raise funds from members of the public to assist the victims. In the recent past, individuals, groups, cooporate bodies, United Nations Agencies and embassies have contributed to the fund.   

In another case decided by high court in Lagos, a convicted trafficker, Elele Biloko (M) was sentenced to two years imprisonment and in addition, the building used as a brothel where under aged girls were kept as prostitutes was confiscated. The court also ordered the auction of the brothel and the proceeds realized should be transferred to the victims fund for the rehabilitation of the victims.              

 The NAPTIP Director of Prosecution, Mr. A.O Shaibu stated that effort are in place to confiscated more assets and monies of convicted traffickers in some cases presently pending before the High Courts.

SPEECH BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF NAPTIP, BAR. SIMON CHUZI EGEDE, ON THE RELEASE OF ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE.

PROTOCOL

                 It is with great pleasure and honour that I welcome you to NAPTIP today for this press briefing. Prior to the existence of this Agency, the US government through its passage of the 2000 Trafficking Victim Protection Act as amended, demanded US Secretary of States to submit an annual global report on human trafficking to their congress. The objective is actually to stimulate action and grow partnership geared towards the elimination of the scourge of human trafficking in the world.

 2.             As a result of this, countries were assessed based on standards set forth in the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. These standards have been expanded by NAPTIP to include rehabilitation and reintegration of victim back into the society.  In the annual report, countries are assigned and rated according to tiers 1-3, depending on the degree of compliance to the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking.

 3.             Upon emergence in 2003, our country Nigeria was on Tier 2 Watch list. This meant lack of compliance with the minimum standard and lack of adequate legislation criminalizing the act, corruption amongst enforcement officers, lack of assistance to victims and no political will to stamp out the scourge.

 4.             In the 2005 Report, the country was removed from Tier 2 Watch list to Tier 2, which indicated palpable effort at compliance with those minimum standards. The country has remained in Tier 2 Watch list since then.

 5.             Gentlemen of the Press and worthy Stakeholders, the US department of State has released the 2009 Annual Global Trafficking Report, which has elevated Nigeria to Tier 1.

6.             Coming hot on the heels of my first hundred days in office as the Executive Secretary of the Agency, we celebrate this testimonial of an independent assessor to our effort, both as a people, and as an agency.  The implication of this elevation is that the Government of Nigeria fully complies with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.