A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, January 29, ordered the remand of a woman, Rejoice John alias Success, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly trafficking three young ladies to Ghana for prostitution.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke remanded the defendant, pending the hearing and ruling on her bail application.
In the charge marked FHC /L /829c /24, John is facing five counts bordering on deporting, harbouring and organised foreign travel for prostitution, preferred against her by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, during the defendant’s arraignment, told the court that she allegedly trafficked some girls to Ghana for prostitution.
NAPTIP prosecution counsel, U.I. Egonu, told the court that the incident took place between June and September 2024.
Egonu said John alias Success of Godwin Compound, in Oku Uruan, Akwa Ibom State, on or about June 2024 in Ghana, and was later deported from Ghana to Lagos, Nigeria, allegedly organised the foreign travel of a 22-year-old lady (names withheld), alias Queen from Nigeria to Ghana for the promotion of prostitution.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant between June 2024 and September 2024, after her deportation, harboured and organised foreign travels for Queen, 22 years old, another victim (names withheld), alias Ella, 21 years old and (names withheld) alias Grace, 22, from Nigeria to Ghana knowing that they would be induced into prostitution.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 18 and 15(b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and are punishable under the same Section of the Act.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
The prosecutor while asking for a trial date, urged the court to remand the defendant in the correctional centre pending the disposal of the case.
However, the defence counsel, E.O. Ajoku, informed the court that the defence had filed a bail application and asked the court to grant the application.
The counsel argued that the offence is bailable. However, the prosecutor opposed the bail application and urged the court to refuse the application in view of the seriousness of the offence, damage and embarrassment it had caused and continues to cause the country before the international community.
After listening to the arguments of both the defence and prosecution, Justice Aneke adjourned the matter to February 5, 2025, for a ruling.
He ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre till the next adjourned date.