62-year-old woman jailed 12 years for trafficking girls

A high court sitting in Benin, Edo State, has sentenced a 62-year-old woman, Felicia Osaigbovo, to 12 years in prison for trafficking girls to Belgium for prostitution. City & Crime reports that the convict was also fined N24m. The woman was arraigned in July, 2021, by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in […]

A high court sitting in Benin, Edo State, has sentenced a 62-year-old woman, Felicia Osaigbovo, to 12 years in prison for trafficking girls to Belgium for prostitution.

City & Crime reports that the convict was also fined N24m.

The woman was arraigned in July, 2021, by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on a 24-count charge bothering on recruiting and organising travelling for young girls for prostitution in Belgium contrary to Section 13(4)c of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPPEA).

She was also arraigned for organising foreign travels which promoted prostitution contrary to Section 18 of TIPPEA, 2015, for 12 victims currently in Belgium.

• E-ticketing delay threatens N22bn revenue on Lagos-Ibadan, Itakpe trains
• Senate probes incarceration of 250 Nigerians in Ethiopian prison

The woman, however, pleaded not guilty, while the case suffered several adjournments.

During the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses, including a police officer (Jimmy Wellem Hendricks) from Belgium and tendered 13 exhibits.

Delivering judgment, the court held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Geraldine Ono Imadegbelo, therefore, sentenced the convict to 12 years in prison and also fined her N24m.