By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A 24 years old lady, Vera Daniel Ifork also known as Blossom was on Friday February 9, sentenced to 17 years imprisonment by Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos for trafficking teenage girls for prostitution.
In addition to the jail term, the convict is also to pay N3 million fine for committing the offence as prescribed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Act, 2015.
Justice Faji had on Monday suspended sentencing the Vera Daniel Ifork till Friday (today) after delivering judgement in which the she was found guilty on counts 1 and 2 and was convicted as charged.
The human trafficker was found guilty on Counts 1 and 2 of the charge of promoting prostitution and trafficking teenage girls to Burkina-faso for the purpose of using them as sex hawkers.
The convict, a native of lyamitet Village Obubra Cross River State, whose last known residential address was 2, Mazi Uzogwu Street, Mgbede Ojo, was first arraigned before the court sometimes in 2020, by NAPTIP on a three count-charge of organizing foreign travel to promote prostitution, trafficking her victims for prostitution purposes and and selling off the victim, who was subjected to sexual exploitation.
The prosecutor, Mrs. Becky Jibo, had told the court that the convict committed the offences on or about February, 2020.
She told the court that the convict’s actions contravened Sections 18, 14(b) and 21 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
The convict had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was admitted to bail in some terms and conditions but was unable to meet the bail terms and had remained in the prison custody.
During the trial of the lady, the prosecutor, Mrs. Jibo, called three witnesses, who included; the Investigation Officer, the victim and one other, and as well tendered some documentary evidences, which were admitted by the court as exhibits.
Upon conclusion of the prosecution’s case, the convict opened her defence in a bid to exonerate herself of the charges against her.
However, Justice Faji, after legally weighing the parties case, held that the prosecution has successfully proved beyond every reasonable doubt two out of three charges preferred against the convict.
The judge consequently, convicted her and sentenced her to 10 years in count one and seven years in count two, while discharged her of count three.
In addition to the jail-term, Justice Faji ordered her to pay a total sum of N3 million, while adding that the convict will serve another eight months, in the event she was unable to pay the N3 million.
Charges Against the Convict read: “That you Vera Daniel Ifork (a.k.a. Blossom), “F”, 24 years, of lyamitet Village Obubra Cross River on or about February, 2020 at 2, Mazi Uzogwu Street, Mgbede Ojo within the jurisdiction of the Federal High court organized foreign travel which promotes prostitution for Ejenike Uchechukwu to go from Lagos-Nigeria to Burkina-Faso and 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.
“That you Vera Daniel Ifork (a.k.a Blossom), “F”, 24 years, of lyamitet Village Obubra Cross River on or about February, 2020 at 2, Mazi Uzogwu Street, Mgbede Ojo within the jurisdiction of the Federal High court exported Ejenike Uchechukwu from Lagos-Nigeria to Burkina-Faso knowing that she will be induced into prostitution and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 14(b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
“That you Vera Daniel Ifork (a.k.a Blossom), “F”, 24 years, of lyamitet Village Obubra Cross River on or about February, 2020 at 2, Mazi Uzogwu Street, Mgbede Ojo within the jurisdiction of the Federal High court sold Ejenike Uchechukwu in Burkina Faso to Martha (at large) knowing that she will be subjected to exploitation and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act.”