Court Sentences Human Trafficker to Two Years in Sokoto

A Sokoto State High Court has sentenced 43-year-old Gerald Eugene to two years in prison for receiving two victims of human trafficking for exploitation. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) announced the conviction on its official Facebook page.

Eugene was arraigned before Justice Mu’awiya Dahiru on April 15, 2025, and found guilty under Section 13(2)(c) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015. The court's decision underscores Nigeria's commitment to combating human trafficking and holding offenders accountable.

This conviction adds to a series of legal actions taken against human traffickers in Nigeria. In a notable case from 2019, a Federal High Court in Osun State sentenced Sekinat Owolabi, a 29-year-old woman, to four years' imprisonment for human trafficking. Owolabi was convicted on four counts related to organising foreign trips and promoting prostitution. Justice Maureen Onyetenu emphasised that the sentence would serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders.

These cases highlight the ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to address human trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation.