Man sentenced to six years in prison for human trafficking and sexual abuse — Nigeria — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

A federal court in Calabar, Cross River State, has sentenced 32-year-old Prince Joseph Ekpo to six years in prison and a fine of 600,000 naira for human trafficking and sexual abuse of two minors.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Cross River State Command, secured his conviction on May 23 under charge number FHC/CA/86C/2023, filed on June 20, 2023.

Judge Ijeoma Ojukwu sentenced Ekpo after finding him guilty on counts one and two of sexually abusing an 11-year-old and a six-year-old minor.

According to the court, the defendant was charged with two counts bordering on human trafficking by deception and abuse of an unjustified situation.

The offences contravene section 13(2)(b) of the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and section 15(b) of the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

On count one, the court sentenced the accused to three years imprisonment and a fine of 300,000 naira. On count two, the court sentenced him to three years imprisonment and a fine of 300,000 naira, making a total of 600,000 naira. The sentences must be served concurrently.

Although the prosecution filed a motion seeking compensation for the rehabilitation of the victims, the court rejected the motion on the grounds that the accused was unable to pay the bail of 500,000 naira, as that was the sole reason why he had been detained since the indictment was filed.

In the Court’s view, the award of such compensation would result in the sentence being commuted to life imprisonment, which would not be in accordance with the intention of the law on the basis of which he was convicted.

The court, however, ordered that the accused be medically examined by a doctor of the Nigerian Correctional Service since he admitted to having committed a similar offence in the past.