The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
(NAPTIP) has warned Nigerians against illegal adoption of children. The
Director-General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donle, issued the caution in a
statement on Friday in Abuja while reacting to the recent conviction of
five men in Makurdi for adoption of a four-year-old boy.Okah-Donle
advised anyone intending to adopt a child to go through the legal
processes in order to avoid falling foul of the law or causing another
parent severe emotional and mental pain.The NAPTIP boss who condemned
the abduction of children expressed concern on the pains that parents
whose children were abducted could be going through.According to her,
under Sections 13 (2), 21, and 27 of the Trafficking in Persons
(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration (TIPPEA) Act, 2015, it is a
crime to abduct, transport, receive or harbour a victim of human
trafficking.“The law also prohibits the purchase, sale, hiring or taking
possession of any person with intent, knowing it to be likely or having
reasons to know that such a person will be subjected to exploitation as
well as any conspiracy to commit any offence under the Act,” she
quoted the lawOn the convicted men in Makurdi, the statement listed the
accused persons as Adejo Ogiri, Afonne Nwokocha, Ndukwe Henry and Obuito
Onyema.According to the statement, they were sentenced by the Federal
High Court in Makurdi for abducting a four-year-old boy.They were
arrested by officers of the Department of State Services for the
abduction and attempted sale of the victim and handed over to the
NAPTIP.The statement noted that the first accused (Ogiri) abducted his
neighbour’s child from Otukpo and took him to Umuahia, Abia state, where
he handed him over to the second accused, Uzochukwu.It further noted
that Uzochukwu took the child to the third convict (Edward), who had a
client, Augustina, still at large, whom they intended to sell the child
to.“While waiting for the client to pick up the child, they kept him
with the fourth accused person, who is a relative of the client.“Edward
was arrested by the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) as he
went to the bank to withdraw the money earlier sent by the client.“The
DSS thereafter, rescued the child, arrested and handed the suspects over
to NAPTIP for further investigation and prosecution.“In the course of
trial which lasted between September 2016 and May 2018, the presiding
Judge found the acts committed by the accused persons despicable.“Based
on the evidences tendered by the prosecution, found them guilty and
subsequently sentenced them accordingly.“Convicted under Sections 13
(2)(a), 21 and 27 of TIPPEA ACT, 2015, Ogiri was sentenced to two years
and five years’ imprisonment, respectively, on each count.“The fourth
and fifth accused persons were sentenced to five years imprisonment,
each, while the second and third accused persons, who jumped bail in the
course of the trial, will be sentenced when caught,” the statement
noted.Okah-Donle lauded the collaborative efforts of the DSS in the
arrests and course of the trial.She identified partnership as one of the
five-pronged approaches employed by NAPTIP in combating human
trafficking, adding that fight against human trafficking will be more
impactful when law enforcement agencies work together.Illegal adoption of children will land you in jail - NAPTIP
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons
(NAPTIP) has warned Nigerians against illegal adoption of children. The
Director-General of NAPTIP, Ms Julie Okah-Donle, issued the caution in a
statement on Friday in Abuja while reacting to the recent conviction of
five men in Makurdi for adoption of a four-year-old boy.Okah-Donle
advised anyone intending to adopt a child to go through the legal
processes in order to avoid falling foul of the law or causing another
parent severe emotional and mental pain.The NAPTIP boss who condemned
the abduction of children expressed concern on the pains that parents
whose children were abducted could be going through.According to her,
under Sections 13 (2), 21, and 27 of the Trafficking in Persons
(Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration (TIPPEA) Act, 2015, it is a
crime to abduct, transport, receive or harbour a victim of human
trafficking.“The law also prohibits the purchase, sale, hiring or taking
possession of any person with intent, knowing it to be likely or having
reasons to know that such a person will be subjected to exploitation as
well as any conspiracy to commit any offence under the Act,” she
quoted the lawOn the convicted men in Makurdi, the statement listed the
accused persons as Adejo Ogiri, Afonne Nwokocha, Ndukwe Henry and Obuito
Onyema.According to the statement, they were sentenced by the Federal
High Court in Makurdi for abducting a four-year-old boy.They were
arrested by officers of the Department of State Services for the
abduction and attempted sale of the victim and handed over to the
NAPTIP.The statement noted that the first accused (Ogiri) abducted his
neighbour’s child from Otukpo and took him to Umuahia, Abia state, where
he handed him over to the second accused, Uzochukwu.It further noted
that Uzochukwu took the child to the third convict (Edward), who had a
client, Augustina, still at large, whom they intended to sell the child
to.“While waiting for the client to pick up the child, they kept him
with the fourth accused person, who is a relative of the client.“Edward
was arrested by the Directorate of State Security Service (DSS) as he
went to the bank to withdraw the money earlier sent by the client.“The
DSS thereafter, rescued the child, arrested and handed the suspects over
to NAPTIP for further investigation and prosecution.“In the course of
trial which lasted between September 2016 and May 2018, the presiding
Judge found the acts committed by the accused persons despicable.“Based
on the evidences tendered by the prosecution, found them guilty and
subsequently sentenced them accordingly.“Convicted under Sections 13
(2)(a), 21 and 27 of TIPPEA ACT, 2015, Ogiri was sentenced to two years
and five years’ imprisonment, respectively, on each count.“The fourth
and fifth accused persons were sentenced to five years imprisonment,
each, while the second and third accused persons, who jumped bail in the
course of the trial, will be sentenced when caught,” the statement
noted.Okah-Donle lauded the collaborative efforts of the DSS in the
arrests and course of the trial.She identified partnership as one of the
five-pronged approaches employed by NAPTIP in combating human
trafficking, adding that fight against human trafficking will be more
impactful when law enforcement agencies work together.
