The Federal High Court, Calabar Judicial Division, has convicted three men for trafficking a two-year-old boy from Bunyia Community in Boki Local Council of Cross River State. The convicts, Felix Iorlumun (18), Silas Shie (19), and Samuel Moses (27), were found guilty of conspiracy and transporting the child by means of abduction for exploitation. The offences contravened Sections 13 and 27 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPPEA) 2015.
According to the case details, the convicts abducted the child, Wisdom Emmanuel Achua, and transported him to Mbube Community in Ogoja Local Council, allegedly with the intention of taking him to Benue State. They were intercepted by community vigilantes in Mbube, who alerted the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), leading to the agency taking over the investigation and prosecution.
The three men pleaded guilty to the charges when they were arraigned before the court in October. The case, Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Felix Iorlumun and two others, was prosecuted by NAPTIP, Cross River State Command, under Charge No. FHC/CA/160C/2026. Delivering judgment on October 7, 2026, Justice Rosemary Oghoghorie convicted them on all the counts and sentenced them to various terms of imprisonment and fines.
Iorlumun and Shie were each sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined N250,000 on each of counts one and two, with the sentences to run concurrently. Moses was also sentenced to two years imprisonment and fined N250,000 on each of counts one and two, with the sentences to run concurrently.
On count three, Moses was sentenced to five years imprisonment and fined N1 million, with the sentence also to run concurrently. The judgment marked a significant milestone in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria, demonstrating the commitment of the judiciary to holding perpetrators accountable.
The conviction and sentencing of the three men send a strong message to potential traffickers, emphasizing the severity of the punishment for such crimes. The case highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies, community vigilantes, and anti-trafficking organizations in identifying and prosecuting human trafficking cases.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the judiciary have been commended for their efforts in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The case serves as a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and cooperation to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
Key points
- Three men were convicted and sentenced for trafficking a two-year-old boy in Cross River State.
- The convicts were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and fines for contravening the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPPEA) 2015.
- The case highlights the importance of collaboration in identifying and prosecuting human trafficking cases in Nigeria.
