Woman remanded for trafficking Nigerian girls to Spain

Juliana Francis

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has remanded a Spain based Nigerian, Patricia Ekhoe Igbinovia aka Mama Bobby and Audu Mariam Olayemi, for her alleged involvement in the trafficking of Nigerian girls from Nigeria to Spain.

The Press Officer, NAPTIP, Adekoye Vincent, said that two of Igbinovia’s gang members are currently in detention in Spain.

Vincent said: “Igbinovia, whom operatives of the Agency have been on her trail for a long time was recently arrested in a sting operation in Lagos when she sneaked into the country. The suspect has also been arraigned before Honourable Justice C. J. Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos in the charge marked Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Patricia Ekhoe Igbinovia (aka Mama Bobby, aka Audu Mariam Olayemi, FHC/L/345C/2021. She has also been remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service while the matter is adjourned to 17th January 2022 for commencement of trial.”

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Dr. Fatima Waziri-Azi disclosed this at a Virtual meeting- The conversation with NAPTIP- with stakeholders and partners of the Agency to mark her first 100 days as DG of NAPTIP.

She stated that the prosecution was being supported by the British and Spanish authorities through the Mutual Legal Assistance between Nigeria and the other two countries.

She added: “This is the first time NAPTIP will be prosecuting a case where evidence from another country transmitted to Nigeria through Mutual Legal Assistance is used to arrest the target and case filed in court.”

This case is coming just as the Agency has also commenced the prosecution of an official of a Law Enforcement Agency involved in the trafficking of young people to other countries.

According to Waziri-Azi, the ongoing prosecutions are in line with the Agency's renewed strategy for enhanced prosecution of high–profile traffickers and cases of violence against persons in Nigeria.

She said: "Since September, the Agency has received 224 cases, investigated 39, and 189 suspects have been detained and interrogated. Again, 298 victims have been rescued in partnership with other sister agencies, International Organizations, and NGOs. A total number of 19 repatriations have been successful with the invaluable support of IOM, following intelligence reports received and we have about 15 joint intelligence operations currently ongoing. NAPTIP has secured six convictions in Kano, Sokoto and Benin, bringing the total number of convictions to 490.”

Speaking further, Waziri-Azi said: “On assumption of office, I was crystal clear and deliberate about what I needed to do, and where I wanted NAPTIP to be as an anti-human trafficking law enforcement Agency. My approach is based on four strategic priorities, enhanced conviction rate of high profile traffickers, evidence based and sustainable return and reintegration programmes for victims of TIP and SOM, scaled age-appropriate awareness creation on the ills of TIP, especially at the sub-national level, in urban poor communities and rural areas and amongst the youths; and enhanced visibility of the work of the agency, its partners and reporting channels. These four strategic priorities plug into the five-point overarching strategies of the Agency, which is Prosecution, Protection, Prevention, partnership and policy. With the support of IOM, FIIAPP, Italian embassy, UNODC and other partners, we have successfully completed several capacity building for NAPTIP prosecutors, intelligence officers and investigators.”

Waziri-Azi, however, pointed out that the only panacea to an effective fight against human trafficking across the globe was a sufficient response from stakeholders without borders, enough political will as well as unconditional collaboration and cooperation among state and non- state actors.

On evidence–based and sustainable rehabilitation, reintegration and empowerment of survivors, within the period under review, Waziri-Azi said the Agency has "enrolled five victims of violence against persons in school: three in primary school and two in tertiary institutions and reunited 43 victims of trafficking with their families, including one Cambodian national who three weeks ago returned to her country after six months in our shelter. 10 victims in the NAPTIP Shelter have been empowered.”

Speaking on enhanced awareness creation and sensitization, she stated that the Agency, "reached about 10 million people during the 16days activism campaign against sexual and gender–based violence which held between November and December 2021. With the support of the EU funded Rule of Law and Anti-corruption program, we recently launched the maiden edition of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Report 2020; the first report since the enactment of the VAPP Act in 2015. In collaboration with The CANS, we launched the establishment of the first TIP/SGBV Vanguard in secondary school. Our goal is to establish this vanguard in the 110 Federal Government Unity Colleges across the country and we have started with FGGC Abaji, 3 weeks ago. The Vanguard is a platform for young people to get involved in the fight against human trafficking and violence against persons and to create awareness on the ills of TIP. This will progressively be established in all educational institutions in the country.”

The Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mr. Frantz Celestine who was represented by Ms. Prestage Murima, commended Waziri-Azi for her achievements, and promised the sustained support of IOM for NAPTIP.

Other Speakers included: National President of the Network of Civil Society Organization Against Child trafficking, Abuse and Labour (NACTAL), Mr. Abdulganiyu Abubakar; the President of Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM), Mr. Abayomi Ajibola and the Executive Director, Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) Mrs Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi.