Edo Court Convicts Lady For Human Trafficking

Benin City Jan 14, (THEWILL) – The war against human trafficking, prostitution and slavery recorded some success in Benin City, Edo State on Thursday with the conviction of Mrs. Juliet Peters Ewinramen aka ‘Madam’ for human trafficking and prostitution by a Benin High Court presided over by Justice Phillip Imoedemhe.

The 35-year-old Edo woman was sentenced to 15 years in prison without an option of fine.

Mrs. Ewinramen was also ordered to forfeit assets believed to have been acquired with proceeds of the illicit trade to the Victims Trust Fund of the Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in persons and Other related matter (NAPTIP).

The convict who was arraigned on a five count felony charge including trafficking in slaves, procurement for prostitution and deceitful inducement, is said to be notorious for taking young ladies from Benin and environs to her brothel in Ibadan called Lucky star Hotel for prostitution.

THEWILL investigations revealed that many young ladies who were lured by her after promises of a better life were forced into prostitution and the proceeds went to her alone.

After the judgment, the Benin Zonal Head of NAPTIP, Adefunke Abiodun described the conviction as another landmark in the operation of the Agency.

She promised that 2010 will be a tough year for human traffickers as the agency was ready to track and bring them to justice.