NAPTIP fires 5 employees over corruption, demotes 3
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A Deputy Director and four other officers have been dismissed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking Persons (NAPTIP) over corruption, leaking confidential information, and other offences.
NAPT spokesperson Vincent Adekoye disclosed in a statement the offences included demanding and receiving bribe from suspects and relatives.
They also included leaking confidential information to suspects that endangered the lives of colleagues; violation of the oath of secrecy; stealing and alteration of official records, and Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL).
“These offences are all contrary to provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations,” Adekoye said.
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Demotions and conviction
“Two other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting for bribe from a suspect of human trafficking, while one officer was demoted by one rank for the negligence of duty, Adekoye added, per The PUNCH.
“The disciplinary actions followed the approval of the Governing Board of the agency at its meeting on May 25, 2023.
“At that meeting, the board considered and ratified the decision of the agency’s Senior Staff Committee which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.”
Adekoye also announced that a Federal High Court in Sokoto convicted a law enforcement officer and sentenced him to prison.
According to him, the officer was convicted on a two-count charge of trafficking, contrary to Section 26 (2) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (2015), and was sentenced to five years on each count.
“This is NAPTIP’s 37th conviction and counting for the year 2023,” he added.
NAPTIP rescues 19,000 trafficked persons, secures conviction of 32 traffickers
The NAPTIP announced in May that it had rescued 19,000 persons since its inception and secured the conviction of 32 traffickers in court in the first five months of 2023.
NAPTIP Director of Intelligence and Public Enlightenment, Josiah Emerole, gave the figures in Abuja at a national learning, experience sharing and policy brief dissemination on combating human trafficking and unsafe migration.
The event was organised by Women Aid Collective (WACOL) with the support of the Swiss Government, managed by its Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).
“Between January and May 2023, NAPTIP secured the conviction of 32 persons for various offenses related to human trafficking. This is in addition to the no fewer than 19,000 persons rescued by the agency since its inception,” Emerole said.
Former Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Controller General, Muhammad Babandede, identified bad governance as a major driver of illegal migration and human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is not only a matter of crime. Governance is a major issue. The issue of bad governance is the underlying factor that promotes illegal migration and trafficking,” he stressed.
“It is important to address this issue if we want to effectively combat human trafficking and unsafe migration.”
