A Federal High Court in Calabar has convicted Mabum Joseph Arisha and Mutashu Victor Mabum, residents of Mfom 1 Village in Ogoja Local Council, sentencing them to 12 years imprisonment each for child trafficking offences.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Cross River State Command, prosecuted the convicts on 17 counts related to human trafficking.
NAPTIP stated that the pair trafficked eight children from their community and transferred them to a suspect known as Ada Eze, who is currently at large, for exploitation.
Some of the victims were biological children of the offenders, while others were children of neighbours, exposing the severity of the abuse within the community.
The offences violated relevant provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
Although the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignment in October 2024, the court later convicted them on all 17 counts following trial proceedings.
While delivering judgment, Justice Licia Ojukwu sentenced Arisha to 12 years imprisonment and imposed a fine of N2 million on each of counts one to 11.
Similarly, Mabum received a 12-year prison sentence and a fine of N2 million on each of counts 12 to 17.
The court ruled that the sentences would run concurrently and commence from the date the judgment was delivered.
Beyond the sentencing, the court issued an order regarding one of the rescued victims identified as Favour Arisha.
The child, who was rescued by NAPTIP operatives from Lagos State, will be placed under the custody of the Cross River State Government through the Ministry of Social Welfare and Community Development.
The court also directed that the victim should remain under government care until she is released to a responsible family member who can guarantee her proper welfare.
NAPTIP described the judgement as a significant step in the fight against human trafficking and the protection of vulnerable children in Cross River and beyond.
