Woman sentenced to prison for hiring seven-year-old as domestic worker

A woman, Onwe Nwakaego has been sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine, for using a seven-year-old girl as a domestic worker.

Nwakaego, 25, from Abakpa Nike Enugu and Mr Onwe Ifeanyi were arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State. The two defendants were arraigned on January 17, 2018 by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The offence is contrary to Section 23 (1) (a) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

NAPTIP Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Nneka I. Aniagoh said: “ After listening to the defendants and the prosecution, and viewing the necessary documents presented by the prosecution as exhibit in the case, the presiding Judge, Justice Abdullahi Mohammed Liman, found the first defendant guilty as charged and she was sentenced accordingly. However the second defendant, Onwe Ifeanyi pleaded not guilty and was subsequently admitted to court bail.”

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli expressed her happiness over the conviction and used the opportunity to reiterate the Agency’s resolve to stamp out child trafficking and its accompanying forms of exploitative labour from Nigeria.

She warned the general public against employing children below the age of 12 as domestic workers, or engaging in any form of child labour or abuse, as she said the arm of the law would catch up with anyone who flouted the law.

The NAPTIP boss further called on members of the public to report any suspected case of child trafficking and abuse to NAPTIP.