A Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has remanded a 56-year-old woman, Nma Achumba, over allegations of recruiting and abducting 21 young girls for sexual exploitation and child trafficking.
NIGERIACRIME gathered that the suspect was remanded in Nigeria Correctional Centre, Afara, Umuahia.
The suspect was said to have committed the crime in Umunkpeyi Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA and Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA of the State in June, 2023.
When the charges were read to her, the 56-year-old accused pleaded not guilty.
In a short ruling after her plea, the trial Magistrate, Ngozi Lekwa, said that the offence is punishable under Section 13, Sub section 1, 2 and C of the Trafficking in Persons Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and Section 86 of the Criminal Code, as applicable in Abia State.
However, Lekwa said that the Magistrate Court lacked the jurisdiction to handle the matter and ordered that the case file be transferred to the office of the Department of Public Prosecution Abia State Ministry of Justice, Umuahia.
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The matter was adjourned to November 7, 2023, for a report of compliance, while the accused, Nma Achumba, was remanded in the Correctional Centre, Umuahia.
But the Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechuckwu Uwanna said the State is determined to prosecute those involved in dirty and illegal businesses capable of bringing disrepute to the image of the State.
The Attorney General of the state, who was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, in the ministry, Mr. Vincent Chukwu, noted that there had been reports of pockets of such issues in some parts of Osisioma, Isiala Ngwa North and Umuahia North local government areas of Abia.
Uwanna assured that the law must take its course and advised the Abia public against engaging in illicit businesses.