Court remands cleric, two others over alleged human trafficking in Ekiti
By Boye Oyeyemi
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has arraigned three persons before the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, over alleged involvement in human trafficking and related offences.
The defendants, Akinyemi Sunday, 53, and his wife, Akinyemi Bisi, 40, were docked on a four-count charge bordering on the alleged recruitment, facilitation, exploitation and forced labour of a victim.
Also standing trial is a cleric, Prophet Hezekiah Olusoji, popularly known as Orimikoya, 39, from Erio Ekiti, who is facing a five-count charge over the alleged recruitment, transportation and facilitation of the movement of a 17-year-old girl, Leah John, alongside five others, to Libya for alleged exploitation in 2021.
According to the prosecution, the offences are contrary to the provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and are punishable under the same law.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them before the court.
Following their pleas, the trial judge, Justice Musa Abubakar, ordered that the three defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending the determination of their bail applications and the commencement of trial.
The court thereafter adjourned the case until July 22, 2026, for the commencement of hearing.
