Couple before court for human trafficking

Accra, Feb. 16, GNA - A couple who were busted by the Police for allegedly trafficking six women from Gushiegu and Ashiaman in the Northern and Greater Accra Regions to Lagos and engaged them in prostitution were on Wednesday put before a Circuit Court in Accra.

They are Fati Abubakar, a trader and her husband Bawa Salisu, a commercial driver, who is at large.

The accused persons have been jointly charged with conspiracy and six counts of human trafficking.

Fati pleaded not guilty and was admitted to a bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with a surety to re-appear on March 16. Already Fati and her two siblings Memuna and Zenabu Abubakar have appeared before the same court on 13 counts of conspiracy and human trafficking.

They have pleaded not guilty and are on GH¢10,000 bail each with a surety. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mary Agbozo told the court presided over by Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa that Fati 37, hails from Gushieg= u together with her husband Salisu.

She said between 2009 and 2010, Fati visited her hometown and recruited five women and transported them to Accra and subsequently to Lagos. ASP Agbozo said Salisu also recruited another victim from Ashiaman and transported her to Lagos under the pretext of employing them to be selling porridge 93Kooko"

The prosecutor said on arrival, the victims were kept in a slum at Lakulaku near Obalande in Lagos where they were made to sell the porridge during the day and night.

In addition, the victims were forced into prostitution by the accused persons who enjoyed the proceeds from the trade.

ASP Agbozo said during investigations, it was revealed that the accuse= d persons had their clients who visited the brothel and chose their victims according to their choice.

The prosecution said Fati was arrested following the return of one of the victims who was said to be mentally challenged. She said the mentally challenged victim, was no more marketable for th= e sex trade but when she returned to Ghana she was able to narrate her ordeal and that of her colleagues. As soon as the Police was hinted they visited Lakulaku and rescued the victims.