Nigerian Hairdresser pleads guilty to human trafficking

A 29-year-old Nigerian hairdresser who was being held for trafficking two girls to Ghana to engage in prostitution has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Charged with human trafficking, Ella Peters pleaded guilty.

The court presided over by Mrs Rita Abrokwa-Doko convicted Ella on her on plea but deferred her sentence to April 3.

Prosecuting, Detective Chief Inspector Grace Bandoh said on June 22, last year, the Adenta Police gathered intelligence that Ella had recruited and transported some Nigerian ladies into the country for sexual exploitation.

Chief inspector Bandoh said based on intelligence, a team from the Adenta Police Command embarked on an operation and rescued a 16-year-old native Abarikpo in River State and a 17-year-old native from Owere in Imo State.

Prosecution said Ella was also arrested and it was revealed that she recruited the victims in May last year to Ghana to come and work in her boutique and a tailoring shop.

The prosecution said however, on reaching Accra, Ella engaged them into prostitution and compelled them to make daily sales of GH 150 cedis each.

Prosecution said further investigation revealed that Ella used Razor blade to inflict marks on the faces of the victims and used their blood for ritual purposes to scare them not to fail to produce their daily sales.

Chief Inspector Bandoh said the 16-year-old failed to produce her daily sales and Ella tortured her with a heated knife leaving marks and burnt wounds on her two shoulders and right ankle.