By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
An investigation officer with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Mr Lateef Adeyemi Adeola on Monday told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos Nigeria that two female human traffickers conspired and procured a 17-year old Jennifer Oyemwena Obasogie for prostitution in Dubai.
While giving evidence before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, Lateef Adeola who is the second prosecution witness in the criminal trial of Christiana Ekeinde (31) and Betty Omorebu Ekeinde, also known as Omo (32), told the court that on May 11, 2017, his office received from the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) a case of human trafficking involving the two female defendants.
According to the witness, the defendants were handed over to his office alongside the victim Jennifer Obasogie with an accompanied letter dated May 10, 2017.
“The case was minuted to my Squard for proper investigation”
The witness who named members of his Squard as David Adeoye, Matthew Olalere, Mrs Victoria Patrick and himself, said that their duties are; to arrest suspect of human trafficking, rescue victims of human trafficking, record statements of suspects and victims of human trafficking and to stand as witness in court of law.
He identified the defendants who were in the dock and told the court that they volunteered statements.
While being led in evidence by the prosecutor Mrs Bukola I. Balogun, Adeola said that on assignment of the case to his Squard, the victim volunteered her statement which was recorded by Mrs Victoria Patrick, leader of the Squard.
The victim was admitted into NAPTIP Shell Camp for counselling and rehabilitation.
“On June 9, 2017, the victim volunteered additional statement.
The witness further said the first defendant was cautioned in English language on May 11, 2017 by David Adeoye, one of the Squard members while she wrote her statement which was supervised by David.
“On May 17, 2017, the first defendant made additional statement which was slso supervised by David.
“On May 11, 2017, the second defendant gave her statement after she was duly cautioned by me.
“I witnessed the statement and while writing the statement, the second defendant asked for more continuation sheet.
“She told me that she made mistakes in her statement and I gave her continuation sheet to rewrite the statement” the witness told the court.
According to Adeola, the corrected pages of the statement are 19, 20 and 21, adding that after correcting the statement, both the one she made the correction and one she made mistakes were attached together in the case file.
The witness told the court that on May 17, 2017, the defendants were granted bail.
The court was also told that Mr Jude Obasogie, father of the victim came to NAPTIP office on June 6 and made a statement which was witnessed by the Squard leader Victoria Patrick.
“The father of the victim came to my office with the original copy of birth certificate of his daughter.
“On May 9, 2018 the said victim (Jennifer) testified on this case before Justice Mohammed Idris and on May 17, 2018, she testified again before Justice Idris on this case” witness said.
At this point, Justice Aneke adjourned the case till March 28 for continuation of trial.
Two female human traffickers were arraigned by National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on a 5-count charge bordering on conspiracy, procurement and detention of their victim for prostitution.
They were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris in 2017. They had pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail.
Trial had commenced with the evidence of the first witness (the victim) before Idris before he was elevated to Appeal Court. The matter was re-assigned to Justice Aneke.
Some of the counts read:
” That you Christiana Ekeinde (F), 31 years of 340A Muritala Mohammed Way, Alagomeji Lagos, on or about the month of February 2017, eithin the jurisdiction of this court, procured Jennifer Oyemwena Obasogie ‘F’, 17 years for prostitution in Dubai and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13(4)(d) of yhe Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the
Act.
“That you Betty Omorebu Ekeinde,a.k.a.Omo (F) 32 years of No 34 Oshinfolarin Street Ilaje Barga Lagos on or about the month of February 2017 within the jurisdiction of this court organized fotrihn travel which promotes prostitution for Jennifer Oyemwena Obasogie ‘F’ 17 years in Dubai, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.