Nigerian jailed 10 years for trafficking 10 girls into prostitution

The Achimota Circuit Court has sentenced 29-year-old Nigerian national, Chukwudi Nwachukwu, to 10 years in prison for trafficking 10 girls, including his younger sister, from Nigeria to Ghana for prostitution.

The victims, aged 15 to 18, were deceived with promises of decent jobs but were forced into sex work upon arrival in Accra. Each was compelled to pay GH₵300 daily to Nwachukwu after working at Odorkor, a suburb of the capital.

Presiding judge Mrs Akosua Anokyewaa Adjepong found Nwachukwu guilty on two counts of human trafficking and imposed 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently. The court also ordered him to pay GH₵15,000 compensation to each victim.

In delivering judgment, the court noted that despite Nwachukwu’s plea for leniency as a first-time offender, the growing menace of human trafficking demanded a strong deterrent sentence.

According to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, the case began after a report by Chief Calistus Eloziepuwa, a member of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) in Ghana, who led a team to apprehend the trafficker and rescue the victims.

Investigations showed that Nwachukwu financed the victims’ transportation from Nigeria, aided by recruitment agents who lured the girls from rural villages. Upon arrival, they were housed at his residence at Liberia Camp near Kasoa, where he allegedly forced them to swear before a shrine and threatened them with incurable diseases if they disobeyed.

He later distributed waist beads from the shrine and recorded their daily earnings in an exercise book, enforcing full control over their movements and income.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), supported by Challenging Heights, rescued the victims and secured Nwachukwu’s prosecution.