How We Nabbed Human Trafficking syndicate--NAPTIP

How We Nabbed Human Trafficking syndicate--NAPTIP

An investigative officer with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Mrs Ibrahim Omolara yesterday told a Federal High Court in Lagos how she went undercover to track and arrest three alleged human traffickers standing trial before the court.

Mrs. Omolara, who was a prosecution witness in the on going trial of Precious Owoh (aka Ejiro) Blessing Gabriel (aka Precious) and Rose Gabriel accused of trafficking of a 27- years -old ,Udeogu Ann Ugochi to Dubai for prostitution told the court that trio are members of a syndicate.

The accused persons were arraigned before Justice Babs Kuewumi on a four counts charge bordering on human trafficking.

In the charge, the defendants and one Otubo Nicole who is at large,  was alleged to have organized, facilitated and promoted foreign travel which promoted the prostitution of 27- years -old,  Ugochi in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The offence is contrary to Section 18 of the Trafficking in Persons ( Prohibition ) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and Punishable under the same section.

In her testimony, the witness stated that "Sometime in 2015, Head of Operation, Mr Dele Adeeyo brief me to carry out undercover job, due to an intelligence report received from Headquarters on a nude video going viral on social media about a Nigerians girl, (Ugochi ) trafficked to Dubai for prostitution. I was give a mobile phone number:08037891823 which belong to Precious Owoh all so known as Ejiro.

"I called the phone number and introduce myself as Esther,  hairdressing stylist and a single parent who has intention of traveling abroad to work, I sought Precious assistance for the traveling and she agreed to help.

"She said i will pay sum of N 250, 000 in order to help me get visa to Dubai or Kuwait while I will look for job when I get to my destination or pay sum of N500, 000 for visa and job at my destination abroad . I dance to her tune and she gave me her address at Ajah, I informed my other team members and we went to the area to arrest the first defendant ", she revealed

Mrs Omolara further testified that it was while making statement in her office that Precious  (first defendant ) indicted Blessing Gabriel  (second defendant ) and later led them to second defendant's house in Iba, Lagos.

She said, "Blessing Gabriel was in the house of her sister, Rose Gabriel who is the third defendant, on their house with Precious, I introduced myself as Ugochi ' s elder sister and I was welcome to their house, we discussed what transpired in Dubai, Blessing Gabriel blamed Ugochi for failing to stick to their agreement, she played an audios message on phone for me to proof her point, after that I introduced myself formally and we arrested them." She said.

However , under cross examination by the second and third defendants' counsel , Oke Ojakovo, the witness admitted that the third defendant was arrested due to action in trying stop arrest of her sister, Blessing.

The witness who had earlier told the court that the audio message of an agreement between Ugochi and Blessing was played to her, when asked to disclosed the content of the audio message she heard, she said she didn't listen to it.

The prosecution has closed its case against the defendants and the court has fixed January 18, for the defendants to open their defence.