Two women, Akinniyi Temitope, 41, and Abiodun Oluwakemi, 31, were on Thursday, arraigned before a federal high court sitting in Osogbo, Osun state, over alleged involvement in human trafficking.
Nigeriacrime.com gathered that they conspired to procure and recruit a Kehinde Opeyemi, 21, for exploitative labour to 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’ 20years, 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 labiur, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 26 (2) of the Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty and their counsel, Taiwo Awokunle, urged the court to admit them to bail.
Justice Mashkur Salisu, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N2million with two sureties in like sum each and adjourned the case to February 12, for hearing.
In a related development, a woman, Okunola Madinat, was on Thursday arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, for alleged possession of 4.7kg of cannabis sativa.
The prosecutor, Olufemi Ijimakin, who prosecuted the case on behalf of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged crime along Gbongan-Ibadan expressway, on December 14, 2023.
The charge sheet obtained in court reads further, that you Okunola Madinat ‘f’ adult, had in your possession 4.7kg of cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, LSD, and heroin, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the one count of unlawful possession of cannabis sativa preferred against her.
The defendant’s counsel, Emma Idehen, urged the court to grant her bail in the most liberal term.
Justice Mashkur Salisu admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to February 15, for trial.