Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A 27-year-old man, Chukwuemeka Iheamama, has been sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment by a Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, for trafficking two 15-year-old minors for prostitution. The judgement, delivered on May 20, 2026, marked the conclusion of a trial that began in October 2025 and was a significant victory for the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The convict was found guilty on a three-count charge of child trafficking under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, with the sentences for each count to run concurrently, according to a NAPTIP statement released on May 24.
Iheamama’s criminal enterprise was uncovered on April 12, 2025, when officers of the Nigeria Police Force arrested him in the Agbara area of Ogun State. He was caught in the act of transporting two 15‑year‑old victims, identified as Bright Edim and Mary Ekong, towards Badagry, from where they were to be moved across the border to Ghana for sexual exploitation. The case was immediately transferred to the NAPTIP state command for further investigation and prosecution. The defendant was arraigned before Hon. Justice A. A. Okeke of Court 1, Federal High Court, Abeokuta, on June 18, 2025. The trial proper commenced on October 15, 2025, and after several hearings, Justice Okeke delivered the judgement on May 20, 2026, convicting Iheamama on all three counts. The court sentenced him to two years imprisonment and a fine of ₦250,000 on the first count, five years imprisonment and a fine of ₦500,000 on the second count, and five years imprisonment on the third count, with all sentences to run concurrently. The verdict represents a major breakthrough in NAPTIP's ongoing battle against human trafficking in Ogun State, a region the agency has consistently described as endemic for such crimes.
NAPTIP’s Ogun State Commander, Bose Jimoh, who confirmed the conviction in a statement, reiterated the agency’s dedication to combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable individuals, especially minors, from exploitation. The agency has been ramping up public awareness campaigns and strengthening collaboration with law enforcement to dismantle trafficking networks. This conviction follows other successful prosecutions, including the recent repatriation of a 13‑year‑old trafficking victim from Burkina Faso, highlighting both the scale of the problem and the agency's resolve to bring perpetrators to justice. With this judgement, Iheamama now faces a 12-year prison term, a fate that serves as a stark warning to others involved in the heinous trade of child trafficking.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments