Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division has ordered the remand of a 55 year-old woman, Mrs. Patricia Ekhoe Igbinovia, accused of trafficking ladies for foreign prostitution, in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till January 21.
Justice Aneke made the remand order, after the woman, who is also known as Audu Mariam and Mama Bobby, was brought before the court on a six count-charge of the allegations by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Person (NAPTIP).
Arraigning the defendant in a charge marked FHC/L/345c/21, the prosecutor, told the court that the defendant, a resident of 9, Olajide Street, Off Comelius Nzebuka Street, Pleasure, Oke-odo, Lagos, engaged in the alleged act in 2015, December 2016 and 2017 respectively.
She told the court that the defendant on the years listed above trafficked some ladies from Lagos to Malaga, Spain, for the purpose of prostitution.
Two of the ladies she allegedly trafficked for prostitution were Sandra Okizene Sanni, a.k.a Tracy and Sarah; Kem Olomo, a.k.a. Osato and Peace.
The defendant was alleged to have commited the offence with one Oyo, said to be at large.
The offences according to the prosecutor, are contrary to and punishable under section 18 and 27(b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
With her plea of not guilty, the prosecutor, Becky Jibo, asked the court for a trial date, while she also urged the court to remand her in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the determination of the.
Becky told the court that her request for the defendant’s remand, was based on the ground that if granted bail, she may not to turn up for her trial, as she was having two international passport, which she said made it difficult for her agency to track her.
However, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Uche Okoronkwo of Minerva Legal, told the court that a bail application has been filed and same has been served on the prosecutor.
Okoronkwo added that the offence committed by the defendant is a bailable one. He therefore urged the court to grant the application.
In a bench ruling, Justice Aneke while ordering that the defendant be remanded in the custody of NCoS, adjourned till the matter January 21, for ruling on the bail appllication.
