Trafficking: NAPTIP inaugurates committee to facilitate access to justice
Trafficking: NAPTIP inaugurates committee to facilitate access to justice
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has inaugurated a seven-man committee in Enugu to oversee a legal hub aimed at facilitating access to justice for victims of human trafficking.
The hub was earlier established by NAPTIP and its partners.
The Director-General of the agency, Binta Bello, inaugurated the commiittee in Enugu on Thursday.
The committee has Prof. Sylvester Anya as the Coordinator and Mrs Ogechukwu Enwelum as the Secretary.
Bello was represented by the South-East Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mr Jonathan Ukpai.
She said that the effect of trafficking especially on women and children was much.
She expressed the hope that the inauguration of tbe committee would reduce human trafficking in the entire South East.
Earlier, Mr Leon Javier, Team Director, Foundation for Internationalisation of Public Administration’s project – Support Migration Governance Nigeria – described Enugu as a city with vibrant commercial activities, rich cultural heritage and a tradition of academic excellence.
The Foundation for Internationalisation of Public Administration is a partner in the establishment of the hub.
Javier said that the legal hub was dedicated to supporting victims of human trafficking.
He said that the hub would be expected to provide legal support for victims of human trafficking.
He prayed that the committee would serve with courage, compassion and integrity.
Sharon Dimanche, Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration Nigeria, said the inauguration was more than a ceremony.
“It is a call to action,” he said, urging all state actors, the legal community and other stakeholders to give full support to the initiative.
Dimanche said that the hub would give the victims easy access to justice, protection and opportunity to rebuild their lives.
Responding, Anya, of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, said that six members of the committee were lawyers.
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He said that members of the committee would justify the confidence reposed on them.
The National President of the Network Against Trafficking, Abuse and Labour, Mr Abdulganiyu Abubakar, emphasised that the hub was aimed to help victims of human trafficking to get access to justice.
Abubakar noted that NAPTIP and its partners established another legal hub in Kano.
He said that the initiative would ensure that cases of human trafficking would be adequately and diligently prosecuted.
In his remarks, the Enugu State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Willie Elijah, expressed the hope that the initiative would bring justice closer to victims of human trafficking.
The Chairman of the state chapter of Nigeria Bar Association, Chief Vincent Odo, urged NAPTIP to ensure proper investigation before bringing a case to court to ensure conviction.
