*Court sentence two women to 2-years imprisonment for human trafficking Justice Hadizat Rabiu-Shagari of Federal High Court, Lagos, yesterday, convicted and sentenced two women, Osunabi Fatimoh and Olayinka Eniola, to 24 months imprisonment for human trafficking, The judge sentenced the two after they were found guilty as charged by the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP). The convicts were found guilty of two counts out of three-count charge preferred against them.

Their offences, bordering on conspiracy and trafficking in person contravene Section 15(a),16, 19(b)of the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Law Enforcement and Administration Act 2003, as amended and punishable under the same Section of the Act. While delivering judgment, Justice Rabiu-Shagari held that the prosecution had successfully proved the charges against them beyond every reasonable doubt. The judge also held that the two women were unable to contradict all prosecution’s evidence, adding that they also admitted committing the offences in their confessional statements. Justice Rabiu-Shagari, after sentencing the convicts, held that the period of their jail-term starts from December 7, 2022. The convicts were arraigned sometime in 2016, over allegation that in December 2014, at Ibeju area, Epe expressway, they procured Yilu M ‘f’ , 21, for prostitution in Libya. During trial, NAPTIP’s counsel, Mrs. Becky Jibo, called two witnesses, the victim of the crime, who was trafficked to Libya, for prostitution, and the Investigation Officer, who both testified against the convicts. The prosecutor equally tendered the convicts’ confessional statements, as well as the statement of the victim.

ALSO, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), yesterday, arraigned some medicine dealers before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly importing fake drugs. The defendants: Bernard Chinweuba and his company Vanchris Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited, Duru Chinwike and Valentine Ndukwe (now at large) were arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Faji over alleged importation of fake tablets. They were arraigned on a two-count charge, bordering on importation of fake and unwholesome drugs They all pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them by NAFDAC.

Their offences were contrary to sections 1(1) of the Food Drugs and Related Products Registration Act, Cap F33 Law of the Federation 2004, as well as contrary to section 1(c) of the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap C34, Law of the Federation 2004. The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Barth Simon told the court that the defendant committed the offence on September 8,2022 at Idumota in Lagos. He alleged that Vanchris Pharmaceutical Nigeria Limited (second defendant) Chinwike (third defendant) and Ndukwe (fourth defendant) who is also chairman of the Sabongari Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers Association in Kano, committed the offence at Idumota in Lagos. The prosecution alleged that the trio aided the first defendant to import fake drugs: “Diclofenac BP 50mg (Diclosa 50), Coldtime Anti-Cold tablets, Sonidrex Tablet 50 mg, and Collcap (Chlorpheniramine Maleate Capsules BP 4mg. The first defendant allegedly imported the said drugs contrary to lawful provisions with a plan to move them down to Kano. However, following their plea, their counsel, Mr. Ikechukwu Anima informed the court of their bail applications and prayed the court to grant them bail. Justice Faji, therefore, granted them bail in the sum of N7 million with two sureties in like sum and adjourned trial to March 28 and 29, 2023.