The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dragged two residents of Osogbo in Osun State, Akinniyi Temitope (41) and Abiodun Oluwakemi (31) before a Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo for offences bordering on human trafficking.
The charge sheet containing details of the offences committed by the two women indicates that they conspired and procured a 20-year-old resident of Osogbo, Kehinde Opeyemi, and took her to Libya for exploitative labour.
Both defendants allegedly committed the offences in November 2023 within the Osogbo metropolis and the charge sheet signed by the prosecuting counsel, Jude Ajaegbu and Umar Hammanjuda, on behalf of the complainant, partly read thus; “That you, Abiodun Babalola Oluwakemi, ‘F’, 31years, sometime in November 2023, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired with one Akinniyi Temitope Latifat, ‘F’, 41years, in procuring and recruiting one Kehinde Mariam Opeyemi, ‘F’, 20 years, for exploitative labour to Libya.
”That you Akinniyi Temitope Latifa, (41), facilitated the illegal entry of one Kehinde Mariam to Libya for forced labour.”
According to the prosecuting counsel, the alleged offences are contrary to Section 26 (2) of the Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, as well as, Section 27 of the Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.
Also, the acts by the defendants are said to be punishable under Section 13(2)(c) of the Act. However, they pleaded not guilty after the charge sheets had been read to their hearing.
The defence counsel, Taiwo Awokunle, while addressing the court, moved a formal bail application for his clients, urging the judge to admit them to bail in liberal terms.
In ruling on the application, Justice Mashkur Salisu admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N2m with two sureties in like sum and subsequently adjourned the matter to February 12, 2024.
