A High Court in Benin, Edo State, has remanded two suspects, Gift Okon and Omokaro Valentine, to a correctional centre in the state for the alleged trafficking of young girls to Europe for prostitution and sexual exploitation.

The suspects were arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons on two counts of procuring and harbouring underage girls for prostitution and exploitation contrary to Section 13(2) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

NAPTIP’s counsel, Oburoh Okanigbuan, told the court that sometime in April 2023, the suspect procured underage twin sisters and indigene of Akwa Ibom State, knowing that they would be subjected to prostitution and exploitation.

The counsel added that the suspects also harboured the twin sisters in a brothel in Benin for the purpose of prostitution and exploitation.

The suspects pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them and requested bail.

NAPTIP’s counsel prayed the court to remand the suspects in custody to enable the agency to conclude the investigation and asked for a date to commence the hearing.

Justice Geraldine Imadegbelo, however, remanded the suspect to Benin correctional centre and adjourned the case till June 14 for hearing.

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