The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons [NAPTIP], on Monday, said it has arraigned a Lebanese and two Nigerians for alleged trafficking of a female Nigerian (name withheld) to Lebanon for exploitation.

NAPTIP, in a statement by its Press Officer, NAPTIP, Mr. Vincent Adekoye, said 62-year-old Mohammed Hamze and two the Nigerians – Mr. Adetunji Sanusi, 34, and Mr. Tunde Awwal, 27 – were arraigned before Justice B. G. Ashigar of a Federal High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Adekoye also said the arraignment was part of the agency’s determination to end human trafficking in Nigeria through prompt prosecution and justice delivery.

He added that the arraignment of the suspects was a fallout of the investigation into the case of a Nigerian female that was trafficked to Lebanon whose video went viral on social media platforms across the country about three weeks ago.

The victim has since been rescued and brought back to Nigeria.

According to him, the suspects were slammed with a three-count which bothered on human trafficking/foreign travel which promotes prostitution or other forms of exploitation in accordance with Sections 18 and 27 (a) & (b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

He stated that the case was initially transferred to the Agency by the Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps [NSCDC] after which the three suspects were arrested.

Quoting the Osogbo Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr. Saadu Mustpha, Adekoye said that further investigation revealed that contrary to the initial report, about 16 victims were believed to have been trafficked to the Middle East countries by the suspects.

He added only three have been rescued through the collaboration of civil society organization, Nigeria Embassy and other partners.

He stated that the three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and were subsequently remanded at the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Ilorin while the case was adjourned to February 26, 2020 for the commencement of the trial.