Peace Asukwo Convicted For Using Young Girls For Prostitution
Justice Ahmed Ibrahim Kala of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a 41 year-old woman, Peace Asukwo, to five years imprisonment for using four underage girls for prostitution.
In addition to the jail-term, the judge ordered the convict to N2 million.
Justice Kala further ordered the convict to pay the sum of N5 million to each of the four girls, who are the victims of her unholy trade.
The convict was first arraigned before the court sometimes in 2023 on a fourth count-charge of offences bordering on harbouring for prostitution of four young girls, by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
NAPTIP in the charge marked FHC/L/441c/2023, accused of the convict of procuring, recruiting, inducing and engaging the four girls in sexual exploitation and prostitution.
She was said to have brought in the four girls from Akwa-ibom state and housed them in a brothel named Laredo Hotel, located at Totowu, a border village between Ogun and Lagos States.
Her illegal acts according to the prosecutor, Uzunwa I. Egonu, contrary to and punishable under section 15(b) of the National Agency for Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
She had denied the accusations and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Though, admitted to bail in some terms and conditions but unable to me the bail terms
During the convict’s trial, the prosecution called four witnesses, two among the four among the victims of the crimes, and two Investigation Officers.
At the end of the prosecution’s case, the convict opened her defence, and testified as sole witness.
Delivering judgment on the charge, Justice Kala examined evidences of the witnesses and the convicted, and after citing plethoras of legal authorites held that: “on the strength of the foregoing, it is therefore settled that whilst the prosecution has a duty to prove the guilt of the defendant beyond reasonable doubt; the role of the defendant is to cast doubts on the case of the Prosecution.
“In the circumstance of this case, the defendant made no efforts to contradict the case of the prosecution as there is no evidence on record that contradicts the established fact that the defendant harbored the victims at Laredo Hotel who were consequent, induced into prostitution.
“Accordingly, I hereby find the defendant guilty for each of the four (4) counts charge of harboring the victims (name withheld) for prostitution, and hereby convict her for each of the said offences charged.”
The convict in her allocutor, begged the court for mercy, while promised not to engage in th act again.
In sentencing the convict, the judge ruled: “that You Peace Asukwo is hereby sentence to imprisonment for terms of 5 years in addition to payment of fine in the sum of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only for each of the counts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the offences. The Sentence are to run concurrently commencing from today, while the payment of fine are to be made cumulatively in the total sum of N2 million.
“Similarly, since the TIPPEA Act has provided under Section 65(2) thereof, that where an offender is convicted of an offence under the Act, the Court may order the offender to pay compensation to the victim, in addition to any other punishment ordered by the court.
“Therefore, in due fidelity to the law, I hereby order the convict to pay compensation to each of the victims in the sum of N5 million each totaling the cumulative sum of N20 million.