Experts hinge human trafficking spree on corruption

Legal experts have said that counter trafficking efforts would yield little result if corruption is not tackled in Nigeria. They spoke after a meeting that discussed the nexus between corruption and human trafficking.

She made this known, yesterday, while delivering the eighth inaugural lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), themed: ‘The Interplay Between Corruption and Human Trafficking Epidemic: Implications and Solutions for Nigeria’ in Abuja.

The DG explained that combating human trafficking remained the objective of many anti-human trafficking actors, but the crime had continued to fester, defying efforts because it was being enabled and driven largely by corruption.
 
“An explanation for the disappointing implementation of counter trafficking measures, especially in arrests, investigations, prosecutions and protection, is medium and high-level corruption, which interfaces with policies in multiple ways,” she said.

She said the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administrations Act, 2015, should be amended to include corruption-related human trafficking issues.

A new section may be introduced or section 34, which provides for tampering with evidence and witness may be amended,” she said. In his remarks, the Director General, NIALS, Prof. Muhammed Ladan, said the annual lecture was part of the institute’s effort to proffer solutions to issues of national discuss by experts and professionals in the legal sector. He said: “You can clearly see the extent of our recommendations in terms of practical solutions in our lecture.
 
“The foundational legal instrument relevant to the interplay between corruption and trafficking in persons that Professor Waziri-Azi seeks to address is the fifth schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as Section 15,  sub section 5, which states clearly that the state shall abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power,” he pointed out.