BENIN CITY – Benin High Court has sentenced a 28 year old woman, Miss Vivian Francis to one year jail term for trafficking three girls to Edo state for prostitution
Justice Isoken Eramehan, however gave the convict an option of N125,000 fine.
The prosecutor had earlier told the Court that the convict, earlier this year recruited three girls between ages 15 and 18 from Cross River state and brought them to Benin City under the guise of working for her in her restaurant.
He said that upon reaching Benin City, the girls were taken to a brothel and forced into prostitution, which they said was not part of their agreement.
According to him, the three girls escaped from her custody at night and that as they were running, they met members of the Federal Road Safety Corp on duty and explained their predicament to them.
He said the FRSC officials later called NAPTIP who rescue the girls and thereafter arrested and commenced prosecution of the convict in the law Court.
The convict however pleaded guilty to the offence on her second appearance in Court, consequent of which Justice Eramehan, sentenced her to one year imprisonment with an option of fine.
Speaking on the judgement, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP) Zonal Commander in charge of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states, Mrs Ijeoma Uduack, said the command would not relent in ensuring that human traffickers are made to face the law.
She said the conviction would serve as deterrent to other traffickers.
Meanwhile, the convict who spoke with journalists said she regretted her action and advised others ladies not to indulge in such practice.
