NAPTIP Arraigns Hotelier, Others For ‘Forcing’ Teenager Into Prostitution

 

                   The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic In Persons (NAPTIP) has arraigned a hotelier, Chief Ibidun Joshua, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly forcing a 14-year-old girl and others into prostitution.

He and four others – Osasuwa Ruth, Mabel Tasowia, Segun Ajose and Taiye Adesanya – were alleged to have committed the crime at his Daka Hotel at Seme border, Badagry.

NAPTIP said they lured two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, from Benin City, Edo State, into prostitution.

The alleged offence, NAPTIP said, is contrary to Section 15(a) of the Trafficking In Person (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Admnistration Act, 2003.

The agency said Ruth lured the 14-year-old on January 10, 2010 to Badagry for the purpose of forcing her into prostitution, while Tasowia was alleged to have deceived the 17-year-old on February 7, 2010.

Joshua was accused of running a hotel where teenagers were forced into prostitution and for benefiting from the proceeds of such illicit business, Ajose, the hotels manager, was charged with encouraging underaged persons into prostitution.

Adesanya was accused of organising the illicit business and remitting the proceeds to the hotel owner through its manager.

Yesterday, a NAPTIP investigator, Mrs. Agboko Comfort, said Ajose and Adesanya were arrested on March, 5, 2010, adding that Joshua was arrested when he appeared at the agency’s office upon being summoned.

The case has been adjourned till October 13 for trial.

 Source-- The Nation