Court remands woman for allegedly trafficking girls for prostitution in Ghana

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of Rejoice John, also known as Success, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly trafficking three young women to Ghana for prostitution.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke made the ruling on Wednesday, pending the hearing and decision on her bail application.

John faces five charges, including deporting, harboring, and organizing foreign travel for prostitution, under a case marked FHC/L/829c/24, filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) stated that John trafficked young women to Ghana for the purpose of prostitution.

According to NAPTIP’s prosecution counsel, U.I. Egonu, the trafficking occurred between June and September 2024. It is alleged that John, a resident of Godwin Compound in Oku Uruan, Akwa Ibom State, arranged the travel of a 22-year-old woman, known as Queen, to Ghana in June 2024, with the intention of promoting prostitution. After being deported from Ghana to Nigeria, John continued her activities, organizing foreign travel for Queen and two other women, aged 21 and 22, known as Ella and Grace, respectively, with knowledge of their intended exploitation.

The offences contravene Sections 18 and 15(b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and are punishable under the same sections of the Act.

John pleaded not guilty to the charges. Her defense counsel, E.O. Ajoku, filed a bail application, arguing that the offence was bailable. However, the prosecution opposed the application, citing the serious nature of the charges and the international embarrassment caused by such activities.

After hearing both sides, Justice Aneke adjourned the case to February 5, 2025, for a ruling on the bail application and ordered that John be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre until then.

Agbenu James