A Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State has sentenced a popular middle aged human trafficker, Christiana Uadiale, to 12 years imprisonment, with an option of fine of N11 million only.
The presiding judge, Justice F.A. Olubanjo, who held that the human trafficker was guilty of the charges proffered against her by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), awarded N1.5 million compensation to each of the two victims that testified during trial, and to be paid by the convict.
She commended the security agencies and InterPOL that worked relentlessly to arrest Christiana Uadiale when she absconded after being granted bail during trial.
In the case with suit number FRN V. Christiana Jacob Uadiale a.k.a Christy Gold Charge No: FHC/ASB/41C/2020, the convict was arraigned on a six-count bothering on sections 15(b) and 13(4)c of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration 2015.
She pleaded not guilty to all the counts. However, the court granted her bail, and she absconded, and the trial continued in her absence in line with section 352(4) Administration of Criminal Justice Act,2015.
The convict was arrested on December 31, 2024 by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the International Airport, Abuja, and had been remanded at Agbor Correction Centre.
During a sentencing trial in February this year, Uadiale’s counsel, Emmanuel Olayiwola Afolabi, SAN, appealed for leniency, citing her status as a first-time offender and a single mother. He also explained her absence during the trial, claiming she was undergoing medical treatment for a renal condition in Dubai.
However, counsel for NAPTIP, Tonia Mgbemeje, countered by highlighting the severe physical and psychological trauma endured by the trafficked victims, who have since been reunited with their families.
Mgbemeje urged the court to ensure compensation for the victims and to impose the full weight of the law on the defendant who was accused of trafficking girls from Edo and Delta states for sexual exploitation and harbouring them for prostitution in Dubai.
Olubanjo, thereafter, urged both parties to present one witness each to affirm their submissions.
While sentencing Christiana Uadiale, Justice Olubanjo held that the reasons the convict gave for absconding was found to be untrue.
Olubanjo said the sentencing of the convict to twelve years imprisonment with an option of fine was in line with the provisions of the law upon which she was arraigned as well as taking into consideration the submission of her counsel, Emmanuel Olayiwola Afolabi.
Reacting to the sentencing, Olayiwola Afolabi who described the sentencing trial as a very long task for his team, said the court’s judgement had been fair to both parties.
“Under the law upon which Christiana Uadiale was convicted, there is provision for the option of fines which we argued, and the court agreed with us,” Afolabi emphasised.
Prosecutor with NAPTIP, Benin Zonal Command, Victoria Oburoh, said the management of NAPTIP would decide on the next step to take following the option of fines awarded to the convict by the court.
“The law itself is clear. There is no option of fines. It’s conviction, imprisonment and fine,” Oburoh stated.