A 27-year-old man, Chukwuemeka Iheamama, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for trafficking two 15-year-old girls for exploitation.The judgment was delivered by the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, after he was found guilty on a three-count charge related to child trafficking under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

The victims, identified as Bright Edim and Mary Ekong, were reportedly being moved towards Badagry with the intention of taking them to Ghana for prostitution before security operatives intercepted the operation.

According to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the convict was first arrested on April 12, 2025, by officers of the Nigeria Police Force in the Agbara area while transporting the minors.The case was later transferred to NAPTIP Ogun State Command for proper investigation and prosecution.The suspect was formally arraigned on June 18, 2025, before Justice A.A.Okeke of Court 1, Federal High Court, Abeokuta.Trial proceedings commenced in October 2025 and lasted several months before judgment was eventually delivered on May 20, 2026.

The court sentenced him to different jail terms and fines across the three counts: two years imprisonment and a ₦250,000 fine for count one, five years imprisonment and a ₦500,000 fine for count two, and another five years imprisonment for count three.However, the sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve them at the same time rather than consecutively.

NAPTIP described the conviction as part of ongoing efforts to curb human trafficking and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation, especially cross-border trafficking networks operating within and outside Nigeria.The agency reiterated its commitment to ensuring offenders are prosecuted and justice served for victims of trafficking.