Frank Efe
A Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State today sentenced three persons, Alex Ehidiamen, Kingsley Uzoma and Ehijoba Favour to five years imprisonment each for deceitfully inducing their victims and trafficking them to the Republic of Mali from Warri, Delta State for the purpose of engaging them in prostitution.
Delivering judgment in suit number FHC/WR/52C/2013, the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice M. Shitu Abubakar described the offence as serious and punishable for 10 years imprisonment, but sentenced the convicts to five years imprisonment each with an option of one hundred thousand naira fine each, having considered that the three convicts already spent between two and three years in custody since their arrest May 3, 2010.
The sentence which is sequel to a plea brought before the court by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other related Matters, NAPTIP is coming within one week after another convicted person, Nasser Juliet from Esan North local government area of Edo State was sentenced to two years jail term with no option of fine for similar offence.
Counsel to the three convicted persons, Ebiefanade S. O. had in his final submission pleaded for leniency, hinging it on the ground that the convicts have learnt their lessons for the period they have been in incarceration.
The lead prosecution counsel for NAPTIP, Mrs. Victoria Oburoh on her part asked the presiding judge to exercise discretion based on the facts before him in delivering judgment.
The three convicted persons, Alex Ehidiamen, male, 31 years old, hails from Esan South local government area of Edo State, while Kingsley Uzoma, male, 41 years old, is an indigene of Njaba local government area, Imo State and their female accomplice, Ehijoba Favour is 46 years old from Esan South local government area of Edo State.
It was reliably gathered that the three convicts had pleaded guilty to the offense.
