The defendant alongside one Mrs. Oyomiye Lamidi, who is at large, is being prosecuted for allegedly conspiring in 2011 to traffic one Miss Cynthia Loveth Ese to the UK for sexual exploitation, an offence punishable under Section 27 of the trafficking in persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement Amendment Act, 2015.
Mrs. Obadiaru, who flew in from the UK for the sole purpose of giving evidence in the trial, told Justice Inyang Ekwo that she only accommodated the victim and did not play further roles.
During her examination-in-chief, Mrs. Obadiaru told the court that the defendant who was her childhood friend gave her a telephone call from Nigeria and pleaded with her to accommodate Miss Ese (the victim) for a period of seven days with the understanding that she will transfer an undisclosed amount of money to her account to give to the victim to secure accommodation.
Mrs. Obadiaru said she gave the money to Ese and 17 days later, the victim left to an unknown destination.
She further told the court that the defendant had told her that the victim was in the UK to further her education, noting that it was unknown to her that Ese, who she accommodated for about 17 days before she went her way, was trafficked.
After listening to her evidence, the trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, adjourned the case till December 11 for the continuation of the trial.