A Bayelsa High Court has sentenced 29-year-old Mariam Omokir to seven years imprisonment for engaging in human trafficking.
The convict, who hails from Delta State, was prosecuted by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
Omokir was arraigned before the court on January 30, 2025, on account of organizing and trafficking four girls from Bayelsa to Mali and Senegal for prostitution.
The offences contravene the provisions of sections 13(1) (2)(b), 13(4)(a)(c), 14(b), and 18 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Doris Adokeme held that from the totality of evidence tendered by the prosecution, she was satisfied that the prosecution had successfully proved its case against all the defendants.
She said that out of the four prayers, the court granted two prayers and sentenced the suspect to seven years in prison and an additional fine of N1 million.
Justice Adokeme said that the offence of trafficking in persons is a very serious offence, which has negatively affected the image of the country internationally.
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She held that the jail terms shall run concurrently.
The acting state Commander of NAPTIP, Fadewara Timiebiowei, hailed the judgment, saying it will send a signal that Bayelsa State is not a haven for human trafficking activities.
He equally encouraged parents and guardians to report all forms of human trafficking to NAPTIP or other security agencies.
Also speaking, a representative of the victim’s family and one-time Commissioner for Works in the state, Chief Charles Ambaowei, thanked NAPTIP for the good job.
He promised that the state government would partner with the command to end human trafficking in the state.
