Justice Ayokunle Faji of a Lagos Federal High Court recently sentenced a human trafficker, Vera Daniel Ifork, who is also known as blossom, to 17 years imprisonment.
In addition to the jail-term, Justice Faji also ordered the convicted woman to pay the sum of N3 million fine, as prescribed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Act, 2015.
The judge had earlier convicted the human trafficker, after pronouncing her guilty of charges of promoting prostitution and trafficking one Ejenike Uchechukwu, to Burkina-faso for the purpose of using her as sex hawker.
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, on a three count-charge of Organizing foreign travel to promote prostitution, trafficking her victim for prostitution purposes and selling off the victim, who was subjected to sexual exploration.
The prosecutor, Mrs. Becky Jibo, had told the court that the convict committed the offences on or about February, 2020.
She has 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 has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and she was admitted to bail in some terms and conditions.
During the trial of the charges, the prosecutor, Mrs. Jibo, called three witnesses, who include; the Investigation Officer, the victim and one other, as well tendered some documentary exhibits, which were admitted by the court.
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 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.
The judge, in addition to the jail-term, ordered her to pay a total sum of N3 million, while added that the convict will serve another eight months, in the event she was unable to pay the N3 million.
