A Bayelsa State High Court (Court 3) sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital, has sentenced a 29-year-old woman, Mariam Omokiri, to seven years in prison over human trafficking, with an additional N1 million fine.

The convict, who is from Delta State, was charged by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Offences (NAPTIP).

Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, Justice Doris Adokeme held that, from the totality of evidence presented by the prosecution, she was satisfied that the prosecution had successfully proved its case.

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Justice Adokeme stated that the offence of trafficking in persons is a very serious one which has negatively affected the international image of the country.

She held that the prison terms shall run concurrently and ordered the convict to pay N1 million for trafficking, exporting, and promoting the prostitution of young girls.

Daily Trust recalls that the convict was arraigned in court on January 30, 2025, for organizing and trafficking four girls from Bayelsa to Mali and Senegal for prostitution.

The offences contravene the provisions of sections 13(1)(2)(b), 13(4)(a)(c), 14(b) and 18 of the Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

The Acting Commander of NAPTIP in Bayelsa State, Mr. Fadewara Timiebiowei, who was represented in court by Barr. Charles Emomotimi, said the judgment will send a signal that Bayelsa is not a safe haven for human trafficking activities.

He encouraged parents and guardians to report all forms of human trafficking to NAPTIP, Bayelsa Command, or other security agencies.

On his part, a representative of the victims’ family and one-time Commissioner for Works in Bayelsa State, Chief Charles Ambaowei, commended NAPTIP for the good work.