In a significant victory for the fight against human trafficking, a 31-year-old Nigerian man has been convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking a 16-year-old girl and three other females from Onitsha, Anambra State in Nigeria. The convict, Okolo Chukwukadibia Jackson, was also fined five hundred penalty units (GH¢1,200) and in default, will serve an additional six-month term.
The case, which was brought before the Kweikuma Gender Circuit Court in Takoradi, Ghana, was led by the Western Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service. The convict pleaded guilty to two counts of Human Trafficking and Illegal Entry, in violation of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (ACT 694) as amended by section 1(1) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2009, and the section 2(1), and 52(1)(D) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (ACT 573).
According to the prosecution, Okolo Chukwukadibia Jackson entered Ghana illegally in 2021 and facilitated the smuggling of his victims into the country on February 13, 2024, under the false pretense of sending them to Dubai to work as housemaids. The victims were recruited in Nigeria by an accomplice of the primary suspect, who misrepresented the opportunity as employment as sales girls in Dubai.
Investigations revealed that the accused sent a substantial amount of money to cover the cost of their recruitment, lodging, feeding, and transportation from Nigeria to Ghana. Upon their arrival in Ghana, the victims were handed over to a driver who transported them to Accra and then to Asankrangwa in the Western Region.
The situation took a dark turn when the 16-year-old victim was taken to a shrine by the accused and coerced into swearing an oath of silence under threat of death. Subsequently, she was forced into prostitution under the control of another Nigerian woman, with all proceeds going to Okolo Chukwukadibia Jackson.
Fortunately, the victim managed to escape and seek help from the Asankrangwa Sector Command of the Ghana Immigration Service. The prompt action of the Commander, C/Supt. Kwabena Agyei, led to the rescue of the victims and the arrest of the perpetrators, although one accomplice remains at large.
The Western Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service is actively pursuing leads to apprehend the remaining members of the syndicate and ensure the safety of the other three Nigerian girls. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to human trafficking to the nearest Immigration Office.
This successful conviction and ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies and the importance of public support in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from exploitation. The fight against human trafficking requires continued collaboration and vigilance to secure our borders and protect those at risk.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of human trafficking and the need for sustained action to prevent such exploitation. The Western Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service reiterates its call for public cooperation in creating a safe and secure environment for all.
Below are the full facts of the case released by the Ghana Immigration Service.
1. On Tuesday, 12th March 2024, the Western Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service, led by its Regional Prosecutor, Senior Inspector Terah Allou, arraigned a 31-year-old Nigerian, Mr. OKolo Chukwukadibia Jackson, before the Kweikuma Gender Circuit Court in Takoradi, presided over by Her Honour, Naa Amerley Akowuah, on two counts of Human Trafficking and Illegal Entry.
2. The accused was convicted on his own plea, contrary to sections 2(1)/(2) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2005(ACT 694) as amended by section 1(1) of the Human Trafficking Act, 2009 and the section 2(1), and 52(1)(D) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (ACT 573) respectively.
3. Mr Okolo Chukwukadibia Jackson, was then sentenced to ten years (10yrs) imprisonment with hard labour for trafficking a 16-year-old girl and other three females from Onitsha, Anambra State, a fine of five hundred penalty unit (Ghc 1,200.00) and in default serve additional six months term.
4. Presenting the facts, the prosecution informed the court that the accused entered the country illegally in the year 2021 and has since remained so until his arrest at Aboi Nkwanta, Asankrangwa, in the Western Region.
5. According to the 16-year-old victim rescued, Madam Ella, one of the accomplices of the primary suspect recruited them in Nigeria under the guise of sending them to her brother, the primary suspect, in Dubai to serve as sales girls.
6. Investigations revealed that an amount of Six Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand Two Hundred Naira (N 668, 200) was sent by the accused from Ghana to the said Madam Ella, to cover the cost of their recruitment, lodging, feeding, and transportation from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Asankrangwa in the Western Region.
7. The victims arrived in Lagos on Sunday, 11th February 2024 through an agent and handed them over to a driver referred to as I.K. who accommodated them for the night. On the next day, I.K. put the rescued victim and the other three Nigerian girls into his car and brought them to Accra on Tuesday, 13th February 2024.
8. On the night of Thursday, 15th February 2024, I.K, arranged for Asankrangwa bound bus for the victims and gave Mr. Okolo Chukwukadibia’s contact number to the driver to arrange for the victims to call upon arrival.
9. Immediately after the accused had received them on the morning of Friday, the 16th of February, 2024, he singled the innocent 16-year-old girl out by taking her to a shrine to swear with an egg to the effect that, she would neither run away nor disclose whatsoever ordeal she suffers to anyone, else she will die.
10. The victim was finally taken to a whorehouse, and handed over to another Nigerian woman, allegedly called Madam Special, in charge of that brothel. Right in front of the victim, the accused paid Madam Special, an undisclosed amount of money in addition to giving her packages of condoms, after which the victim was directed to a room and ordered to begin working as a prostitute. The victim was further informed that the entire proceeds from her illicit trade go to Mr Okolo Chukwukadibia Jackson.
11. However, the victim on managing to escape from the clutches of the traffickers, chanced upon a good samaritan, name withheld for security reasons, who led her to the Asankrangwa Sector Command of the Ghana Immigration Service.
12. The Commander, C/Supt. Kwabena Agyei, upon receiving the report, instantaneously arranged to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators but unfortunately missed Madam Special.
13. During the interrogation, Mr. Okolo Chukwukadibia Jackson, admitted to having sent the other three victims to one Madam Gifty, who is also at large, in exchange for Eight Thousand Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢8500.00).
14. The Western Regional Command of the Service, in its quest to arrest the rest of the syndicate members and be able to save the other three Nigerian girls has put its investigative machinery across the Region on high alert.
15. The Service, through this publication is calling on the benevolence of the general public, especially its shareholders to be on the lookout for such suspicious characters within their vicinity and report them to the nearest Immigration Office for prompt action.
The Command continues to rely on the support of all to secure our borders, leading to a stable country and safe people.
-source citinewsroom | curated by Tetteh Belinda | Ghana Crimes
