A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced
27-year-old Miracle Ita to two years imprisonment for trafficking a 16
year old girl from Oron, Akwa-Ibom to Lagos for prostitution. She is to
also pay a fine of N250, 000.
Ita, a mother of two, who is a professional prostitute was
arrested by operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of
Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on July 15, 2016 at Okon Brothel, Ajah,
Lagos where she was exploiting the victim.
When she was arraigned in Court on February 24, 2016, she
pleaded not guilty to the one count charge of trafficking in persons
preferred against her. Upon that plea, trial on the case with Charge
number, FHC/L/57C/2016 commenced on May 12, 2016. Subsequently, the
parties adopted their final written addresses on December 11, 2017.
Delivering judgement on Tuesday, Honourable Justice Obiozor
found her guilty and subsequently sentenced her to 2 years imprisonment
with additional fine of N250,000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira
only).
In her reaction to the verdict, the Director-General of
NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli expressed appreciation to the trial Judge
and the judiciary for rising up to the occasion in the fight against
human trafficking.
She said that NAPTIP with the cooperation of the judiciary
and other sister Law Enforcement Agencies will leave no stones unturned
in ridding the country of human trafficking.
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