A 38-year-old woman named Peace Asuquo has been brought before a Federal High Court in Lagos by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Friday. She is facing charges of allegedly involving underage girls in prostitution.
Asuquo was presented with a single charge related to trafficking, as put forth by NAPTIP, in front of Justice Akintayo Aluko, who was presiding as a vacation judge.
The prosecuting attorney for NAPTIP, Becky Jibo, informed the court that the accused committed this offense during the period spanning from March to June of 2023. The allegations claim that Asuquo was involved in housing and exploiting underage girls for prostitution at a motel located in Totomu Village, situated on the border between Lagos and Ogun states.
The prosecutor explained that this act contravenes Section 15(b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015. In response, the accused entered a plea of not guilty.
Upon the declaration of her not-guilty plea, the prosecutor requested the court to set a trial date and also to detain the accused in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service until the conclusion of the legal proceedings.
The defense attorney representing the accused, Nojeem Azeez, conveyed to the court that he had not yet filed a bail application for his client. He consequently asked for a brief extension of time to prepare and submit the bail application.
Following these proceedings, Justice Aluko adjourned the case until September 12th, at which time the court will address the matter of the accused’s bail application.
