The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has secured the conviction of Goni Bawa Koterema, a 52-year-old man from Borno State, for trafficking a 33-year-old man to Ghana for exploitative labour. The conviction was handed down by the High Court of Justice, Court 11, sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State, where Justice M. B. Umar presided over the proceedings.
The court found the defendant guilty of recruiting and transporting the victim to Ghana for labour exploitation. According to NAPTIP, the offence contravenes Section 26(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015. The agency stated that the conviction underscored its commitment to combating human trafficking, protecting victims, and ensuring that perpetrators were brought to justice.
"Human trafficking is a crime and justice will prevail," the agency stated in a statement posted on its verified Facebook account. The sentence of five years in prison was delivered by the court on the day of the conviction.
NAPTIP's success in securing this conviction reflects the agency's ongoing efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks operating within Nigeria and across its borders. The case highlights the importance of robust legal frameworks and dedicated enforcement agencies in addressing the scourge of human trafficking in the country.