By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A 38-year-old woman, Peace Asukwo was on Friday docked by National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
(NAPTIP) before the vacation judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Peace Asukwo was docked for allegedly harbouring and using under-age girls for prostitution.
During arraignment of the defendant, NAPTIP prosecution counsel Becky Jibo, told the court that the defendant was arrested between March and June, 2023, at Laredo Motel, situated at Totomu Village, a border town between Lagos and Ogun States, where she harboured and used the underage girls for prostitution.
The prosecutor submitted before the court that the defendant’s acts, contravened Section 15(b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
However, the defendant, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, and urged the court to remand the defendant till the determination of the charge.
But the defence counsel, Nojeem Azeez, told the court that he was yet to file his client’s bail application. He therefore asked for a short date, to enable him file the bail application.
With the counsel’s request, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter till September 12, for hearing of her bail application.
Counts one and four of the charge against the defendant reads: “That you PEACE ASUKWO, “F”, 38 years, on or about March, 2023 at LAREDO MOTEL, TOTOMU VILLAGE, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High court harboured ALICE EFFIONG OKON knowing that she will be induced into prostitution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
“That you PEACE ASUKWO, “F”, 38 years, on or about April, 2023 at LAREDO MOTEL, TOTOMU VILLAGE, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High court harboured NSISONG UBONG ODOEKONG knowing that she will be induced into prostitution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.”
