A Bayelsa State High Court sentenced 29-year-old Mariam Omokiri from Delta State to seven years in prison and a N1m fine for human trafficking and promoting prostitution.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Doris Adokeme on Wednesday, followed charges by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). Omokiri was arraigned in January for trafficking four girls from Bayelsa to Mali and Senegal for prostitution, violating Sections 13(1)(2)(b), 13(4)(a)(c), 14(b), and 18 of the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2015.
Justice Adokeme confirmed the prosecution proved its case, noting that human trafficking tarnishes Nigeria’s international image. NAPTIP’s acting Bayelsa Commander, represented by Charles Emomotimi, stated the verdict signals that Bayelsa is not a safe haven for such crimes and urged parents to report trafficking to NAPTIP or security agencies.
