In Osun, Two Women Are Docked For Human Trafficking

A federal high court in Osogbo, Osun State, arraigned two women on Thursday for their alleged involvement in human trafficking: Akinniyi Temitope, 41, and Abiodun Oluwakemi, 31.

It was alleged that they plotted to obtain and enlist 20-year-old Kehinde Opeyemi for forced labor in Libya.

The prosecutor, Umar Hammanjuda, told the court that the defendants committed the said offence sometime in November 2023 at Osogbo, Osun state capital.

The charge sheet reads partly, “That you, Abiodun Babalola Oluwakemi, ‘f’ 31years, sometimes in November 2023, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, conspired with one Akinniyi Temitope Latifat ‘f’ 41years in procuring and recruiting one Kehinde Mariam Opeyemi ‘f’ 20 years, for exploitative labour to Libya, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 27 of Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, and punishable under Section 13(2)(c) of the Act.

“That you, Akinniyi Temitope Latifa (41), facilitated the illegal entry of one Kehinde Mariam to Libya for forced labour, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(2) of the Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.”

The defendants entered a not guilty plea, and Taiwo Awokunle, their attorney, pleaded with the court to grant them bail.

Judge Mashkur Salisu postponed the case until February 12 for a hearing and granted the defendants bail in the amount of N2 million with two sureties in an equal amount each.

Credit: Vanguard