Court remands woman allegedly trafficking on girls for prostitution
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered that a woman, Rejoice John, alias Success charged with human/girl trafficking, be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre pending the ruling on her bail application.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP ) on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria on Wednesday arraigned the middle aged woman, Rejoice John, alias Success before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over alleged trafficking of some girls to Ghana for prostitution.
Rejoice John alias Success was arraigned before the court on 5- counts charge bordering on deporting, harbouring and organised foreign travel for the girls from Nigeria to Ghana for the purpose of prostitution.
When the matter was called for arraignment of the defendant, U.I. Egonu Esq announced appearance for the prosecution while E.O. Ajoku Esq. announced appearance for the defendant.
The prosecutor informed the court that the matter was slated for the arraignment of the defendant and applied that the charge be read to her which was read.
After listening to the 5-count charge preferred against her, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge marked FHC /L /829c /24.
According to the charge, Rejoice John alias Success of Godwin Compound, Oku Uruan, Akwa Ibom State, on or about June 2024 in Ghana and was later deported from Ghana to Lagos, Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of the court allegedly organised the foreign travel of a 22 year old Rose Samuel, alias Queen from Nigeria to Ghana for the promotion of prostitution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition )Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and punishable under same Section of the Act.
The defendant was also alleged to have between June 2024 and September 2024 deported, harboured and organised foreign travels for Rose Samuel, alias Queen, 22 years; Precious Daniel, alias Ella, 21 years and Miracle Chukwuma alias Grace, 22 years from Nigeria to Ghana knowing that they would be induced into prostitution.
According to the charge, the offences contravened Sections 18 and 15b of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
After pleading not guilty to the charge, the prosecutor while asking for a trial date, urged the court to remand the defendant in the Correctional centre pending disposal of the case.
But the defence counsel informed the court that a bail application was filed by the defendant and asked the court to grant the application. The counsel argued that it is a bailable offence.
However, the prosecutor opposed the application and urged the court to refuse the application in view of the seriousness of the offence, the damage and embarrassment it has caused and continues to cause the country before the international community.
After listening to the argument of both the defence and prosecution, Justice Aneke adjourned the matter to February 5 for ruling.
He ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre Kirikiri till the next adjourned date.
