NAPTIP Arraigns Two Osogbo Residents for Human Trafficking
In a recent development, two residents of Osogbo, Osun State, Akinniyi Temitope (41) and Abiodun Oluwakemi (31), found themselves facing charges related to human trafficking before the Federal High Court in Osogbo.According to the details outlined in the charge sheet, the accused individuals allegedly conspired and facilitated the movement of a 20-year-old, Kehinde Opeyemi, from Osogbo to Libya for exploitative labor.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) brought the charges against the defendants, accusing them of committing the offenses within the Osogbo metropolis in November 2023.The charge sheet, signed by prosecuting counsel Jude Ajaegbu and Umar Hammanjuda on behalf of the complainant, outlined the accusations.
Abiodun Babalola Oluwakemi was charged with conspiring to procure and recruit Kehinde Mariam Opeyemi for exploitative labor in Libya. Meanwhile, Akinniyi Temitope Latifa, aged 41, was accused of facilitating the illegal entry of Kehinde Mariam into Libya for forced labor.
These actions were deemed to be in violation of Section 26(2) and Section 27 of the Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015. The charges specified that the defendants could be held accountable under Section 13(2)(c) of the Act.Upon hearing the charges, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
In response, the defense counsel, Taiwo Awokunle, moved a formal bail application, requesting the judge to grant bail to his clients on liberal terms.In a ruling on the bail application, Justice Mashkur Salisu admitted the defendants to bail, setting the amount at N2 million with two sureties required to provide a similar sum each.
The judge scheduled the next hearing for February 12, allowing the legal proceedings to continue.Credit: Punch News