Ogun CJ advocates comprehensive human trafficking law

Ogun State Chief Judge, Hon Justice (Mrs) Olatokunbo Olopade, has advocated the enactment of an all-inclusive law that would cover all aspects of human trafficking.

The CJ said such law should specify severe punishment for traffickers.

She spoke in a welcome address at a two-day workshop organized by Ogun State Judiciary, in collaboration with the Conference of Western Attorneys-General/African Alliance Partnership (CWAG/AAP) and Nigerian partner/coordinator, Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors.

The theme was: “succeeding in the fight against human trafficking” and “the administration of criminal justice Act.

Olopade identified poverty, ignorance, conflicts, peer pressure, porous borders, corruption, involvement of international organized criminal network, lack of adequate legislation and political will to enforce existing legislation as responsible for the scourge and therefore called on the government to enact an all-inclusive law.

Apart from meting out severe punishment for the traffickers, the CJ said the victims must be equally rehabilitated, adding that law enforcement agents should be armed with investigation apparatus that would make them function effectively.

Also, Mrs Kehinde Akomolafe, who represented the Director – General (DG), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), Dame Julie Okah-Donli, in her paper, said his agency has, in the last 15 years of its existence, rescued 12,882 victims, received 5,882 cases, investigated 3,602 cases and convicted a total number of 352.