Efforts by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons to eradicate incidence of human trafficking in Nigeria has yielded another result as a Benin High Court presided over by Justice Alero Edodo Eruaga sentenced Vera Imoh to 12 months imprisonment for human trafficking.
In the suit No B/2C/2015, the convict, who lives at 1, Adunwa Street, off Uwelu Road, Benin City, was charged on a two-count charge of Procurement for Prostitution and facilitating activity for trafficking in persons, contrary to the provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.
Imoh had recruited a 16-year-old school drop out of Uwulu Secondary School, Benin City in June 2015 for her brother, Solomon, who lives in Mali.
She was promised a job in a boutique owned by Solomon, but on arrival in Mali, she was introduced into prostitution.
During the day, she worked as a sales girl in the boutique, while at night are worked as a prostitute.
All her earnings were collected by Solomon.
In her ruling, the Judge said the accused was one of those denting the image of Edo State and Nigeria by recruiting young girls for prostitution.
She added that the accused was not unaware of the kind of “job” the victim was going to do abroad.
The judge however gave the convict the option of paying N1 million fine.
The woman was sentenced on a two count charge to 12 months imprisonment on each, which are to run concurrently, while the fine is cumulative.