Two victims in human trafficking case agree out of court settlement

Accra, Jan. 31, GNA - Two out of the 10 girls who were allegedly recruited from the Greater Accra and Northern Regions to Nigeria and compelled to engage in prostitution by three siblings have opted for an out of court settlement.

This was made known on Monday after the case was heard in chambers. The two were expected to testify in chambers on Monday, but a source close to the court told journalists that some elders in the Northern Region had agreed on a package to compensate all the victims since they and the accused person were from the same family.

The content of the package was, however, not made known. When the case was called in open court, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mary Agbozo stated that following the development in the matter, she would contact the Office of the Attorney-General on the issue. The positions of the eight other victims are yet to be known. The accused persons - Fati Abubakari, Memuna Abubakari and Zenabu Abubakari - all traders, are facing 12 counts of conspiracy and human trafficking.

Zenabu is facing an additional charge of allegedly 93procuring" one= of the victims to leave her matrimonial home in Nanton in the Northern Region to Lagos to engage in prostitution.

They all pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢10,000 with one surety each.

Those found guilty under the law are expected to serve at least five years' imprisonment.

Mr Ali Abdul Samad represented the three accused persons. Earlier ASP Agbozo told the court presided over by Mrs Georgina Mensah-Datsa that the victims who had been rescued were currently housed in a shelter.

ASP Agbozo said the complainant was a staff of the Regional Advocacy Information and Network Systems (RAIN), a Tamale-based NGO, while the accused persons were based in Ghana and Nigeria. She said on December 28, last year, one of the victims confided in the complainant that about four years ago, she and other girls were recruited from Agbogboloshie in Accra and Gushiegu in the Northern Region and transported to Nigeria under the pretext of securing them jobs. On their arrival, they were made to sell porridge 93kooko" during t= he day and engaged in prostitution. However, the accused persons after collecting the proceeds declined to pay them for their services. Due to their plight, the prosecution said, one of the girls sent away from her marital home while another was made to undergo series of illegal abortions.

ASP Agbozo said RAIN, therefore, reported the matter to the Police. The prosecutor said police investigations indicated that the accused persons had been 93doing this business for the past 10 years". ASP Agbozo said the accused persons denied the offence but admitted transporting some girls to Nigeria.