Abia court remands woman for alleged s£xual exploitation and girls trafficking

Nma Lilian Achumba, one 56-year-old woman, has been remanded in Nigeria Correctional Centre, Afara, in the state capital, Umuahia by a Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia, for allegedly recruiting and abducting 21 young girls for s£xual exploitation and child trafficking.

The culprit was charged with recruiting and abducting young girls and exploiting them s£xually in Umunkpeyi Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA and Olokoro, Umuahia South LGA of the State in June, 2023.

But the 56-year-old woman, who used to run the Nma Charity and Rehabilitation Centre in Abia State, pleaded not guilty.

In a short ruling after her plea, the trial Magistrate, Ngozi Lekwa, said that the offence is punishable under Section 13, Sub section 1, 2 and C of Trafficking in Persons Enforcement and Administration Act 2015 and Section 86 of the Criminal Code, as applicable in Abia State.

She, however, said that the Magistrate Court lacked the jurisdiction to handle the matter.

The court ordered that the case file be transferred to the office of the Department of Public Prosecution Abia State Ministry of Justice, Umuahia.

The matter was adjourned to 7th of November, 2023, for report of compliance, while the accused, Nma Achumba, was remanded in the Correctional Centre, Umuahia. [CONTINUE READING HERE]>>>>>