A notorious human trafficker, Mrs. Felicia Osaigbovo, popularly known as Mama Masha, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment with a fine of N24m for human trafficking by recruiting young women from Edo State and sending them abroad for prostitution.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that it was the judgment of the Benin High Court presided over by Justice Geraldine Imadegbelo, in Edo State, who handed Felicia, described as a notorious international human trafficker, the prison term and fine of ₦24 million.
The convict, Mama Masha, who lives at Okuarobo Street, Off St. Saviour Street, in the Upper Sakponba area in Benin, was arraigned on 1st July, 2021 on a 24-count charge of assisting the activities of persons engaged in acts of trafficking in persons contrary to Section 13(4)c TIPPEA, 2015.
She was also accused of organizing foreign travels to Belgium for 12 victims for the purpose of prostitution contrary to Section 18 of TIPPEA, 2015.
She pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution however, called three witnesses, including a Belgian Police officer, Mr. Jimmy Wellem Hendrik, who flew in from Brussels on 31st May, 2023, to testify.
Hendrik told the Court that three of the woman’s children, namely, Aigbe Egberanmen, who was sentenced to six years, would have to cough out €108,000 while Aigbe Daniel, who was fined €108,000 was jailed for five years and another brother, Osaigbovo Nathaniel, bagged five years imprisonment and a fine of €48,000.
The Belgian Policeman said that the suspect could have been tried in absentia in Belgium based on the overwhelming evidence sourced from the several victims, who escaped from the prostitution ring and officially told stories of how Mrs. Osaigbovo, who also goes by the nickname ‘Mama of Juliet’, recruited them in Benin City and took them to Europe for sexual exploitation and prostitution.
The Belgian, who was cross-examined by the counsel to the defendant, painted a graphic picture of how Nigerian girls, who were recruited to Belgium and other European countries, dressed almost naked, standing right by their windows and in private clubs, soliciting for customers.
The age of the victims numbering 24 ranged from 14 to 23 and were trafficked in March 2015 by Mama Masha from Benin to her children, Juliet Egberanmwen Aigbe and Osaigbovo Nathaniel based in Antwerp, Belgium, for prostitution.
The Belgian detective defended his Nigerian trip, insisting that human trafficking does not end in Belgium and Europe and so must be tackled from the roots whether in Nigeria or elsewhere, while adding that the young victims, who were rescued had been resettled and were now engaged in legitimate businesses in Belgium.
The prosecution also tendered 13 exhibits in the cause of trial.
Delivering judgement, Justice Geraldine Imadegbelo found the convict guilty of all 24 counts and sentenced her accordingly.