A 27-year-old Abuja socialite, Doofan David ( popularly known as Wendy) has been arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for alleged human trafficking.
She was arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court presided over by Hon. Justice F. A. Ojo.
The accused and one other person, Miss Kate (simply identified as Katty), who is still at large, were accused of trafficking a 21-year-old girl Ijeoma Orji (not real name) to Malaysia for alleged prostitution contrary to section 13 (40 (a) of Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.
The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail while further hearing on the case has been adjourned to 30th November, 2017.
Speaking on the arraignment, Director General of the Agency, Julie Okah-Donli, said the arrest and arraignment of the accused persons was an outcome a renewed commitment by NAPTIP to ensure that human trafficking is eradicated in Nigeria.
"I have said it several times that NAPTIP will not spare anybody in its determination to redeem the image of Nigeria in the eyes of the world as a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking.
"We have redoubled out efforts in this regard and our operations have been strategically redesigned to enhance proactive surveillance and diligence prosecution. We want to change the negative narratives of human trafficking about Nigeria and this must begin by discouraging the internal demands for commercial sex within Nigeria.
"Our appeal is for all Nigerians to join hands with NAPTIP and let us jointly feed the Agency with useful information that will lead to the arrest of suspected human traffickers.
"Let us know that we can now blow our whistle against any suspected human trafficker in order to protect our children," the NAPTIP boss said.
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