Five personnel, including a Deputy Director, of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP have been dismissed for various offences.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the offences according to the agency, ranged from corruption, demanding and receiving bribes from suspects and relatives and leaking confidential information to suspects that endangered the lives of colleagues.
Other offences of the dismissed personnel as highlighted by the agency national spokesman, Mr Vincent Adekoya were: violation of oath of secrecy; stealing and alteration of official records and Absent Without Official Leave, AWOL
Describing the offences as contrary to provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations, the agency further disclosed that two other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting for bribe from a suspect of human trafficking, while another officer was demoted by one rank for negligence of duty.
Adekoya explained that: “The disciplinary actions followed the approval of the Governing Board of the Agency at its meeting of May 25, 2023.
” At that meeting, the Board considered and ratified the decision of the Agency’s Senior Staff Committee (SSC) which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.
“Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has convicted a Law Enforcement Officer and sentenced him to prison.
” He was convicted on a two-count charge of trafficking, contrary to section 26 (2) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (2015) and was sentenced to 5 years on each count. This is NAPTIP’s 37th conviction and counting for the year 2023″.