KINGSLEY EBERE
A 25-year old man, Alfred Osadolor, has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment with a fine of N1m for exploiting and using a 10-year old girl for prostitution in Edo State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of the Edo State High Court, sitting in Benin city, the State capital, which found Osadolor guilty of trafficking the victim.
The trial Judge, Justice Geraldine Imadegbelo, imposed the N1 million fine on the comvict including years of imprisonment for the offence to serve as deterrent to others who might want to commit such crime in future.
The convict, Osadolor, was earlier arraigned on 22nd August, 2021 on a one count charge of Procurement for Sexual Exploitation contrary to Section 26 (1) of the trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
This was confirmed by the Benin Zonal Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mr. Nduka Nwawenne, who hailed the conviction.
He noted that the case, which was diligently prosecuted by the anti-human trafficking agency, was aimed at sending a clear red signal to human traffickers who might try such in future.
The NAPTIP boss, Nwawenne, reiterated the determination of NAPTIP to checkmate the illicit activities of human traffickers, who traffic little girls for prostitution in the zone.
He echoed the unwavering commitment of the Director General of NAPTIP, Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, to stamp out the scourge of the procurement of minors and young girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
He stated that the identity of the victim was not disclosed because she is still a minor, which the agency needed to protect under the Child Rights Law as a standard practice all over the world.
The convict was moved to the Correctional Centre, where he will serve his sentence in line with the judgement of the Court.