A Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi has sentenced 18-year-old Awua Mzehemen, male, and 40-year-old Mbaikpeveyol Pius, female, to two years imprisonment each for human trafficking. The suspects were arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), with the case number FHC/MKD/CR/25/18, for recruiting three young men aged between 20 and 21 years for exploitative labour. The Prosecution argued that the act is contrary to Section 13(2)(b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, as it amounts to exploitative labour. Delivering the judgment after both accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge, the presiding Judge, Hon. She used to opportunity to warnemployers against paying the wages of their employees to a third party or an agent, saying this was exploitative and fuels human trafficking.

Source: Nigerian Tribune May 14, 2018 17:37 UTC