UK TO PROSECUTE NIGERIANS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING- NEWTELEGRAPH

British Government has restated its commitment to ensure speedy prosecution of Nigerians living in the United Kingdom (UK) that involved in human trafficking.
The Minister of State for Immigration, MS Caroline Noakes, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos during her visit to some facilities of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
Noakes, a Minister of Immigration, expressed displeasure over the high number of NAPTIP cases pending in courts across the country.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the minister said she would ensure complete prosecution of all the agency’s cases in the UK.

She said: “We had a recent good success where the UK government, law enforcement agencies collaborated with Nigeria in prosecuting human traffickers. It is a huge step forward to share information, share expertise.
“I am really appreciative of the Nigerian officials coming to the UK to give evidence in court to prosecute traffickers. That is a huge way forward.”

Noakes commended the works done on NAPTIP facilities in Lagos, noting that within a few weeks of approving money for renovation, the facilities had gone beyond their expectations.

She added: “I am here to see the change made on NAPTIP facilities by the UK government. In just few weeks, the work done is impressive. The facilities are being changed for vulnerable women and people trafficked.

“It will be a safe place for them to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the Nigerian society. The facilities would also help the victims to be comfortable and go through rehabilitation.”

The NAPTIP South-West Zonal Commander, Mrs. Kehinde Akomolafe, who received the minister on behalf of the Director-General (DG), Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended the British government for the assistance.

Akomolafe said the responsibility of NAPTIP was huge which needed more assistance in any way possible.

She said the agency’s management was doing its best with the available resources, stressing that more suspected traffickers were being prosecuted with 11 cases currently pending at various courts in Nigeria.

Akomlafe said one of their officials was in the UK to testify in a case of human trafficking against a woman, Cassandra Iyamu.
She assured Noakes of more collaboration.
Noakes inspected building facility located at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, currently occupied by NAPTIP and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). She also visited NAPTIP shelters for victims within the state.
The Airport Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Ahmadu Garbage, and that of NAPTIP, Mr. Taiwo Waheed, were also on hand to receive Noakes.