UK-based Nigerian accuses friend of deceiving her into housing a trafficked girl

A United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Mrs Florence Obadiaru, has told a Federal High Court Abuja how her childhood friend, Benedicta Omonu Carol (aka Omomoh) allegedly deceived her into accommodating a 17-year old Cynthia Ese, an alleged victim of human trafficking.

Mrs Obadiaru, who said the experienced has turned her life upside-down, prayed the court to help exonerate her, because “I just want my life back. I have been traumatised.”

She spoke while testifying as a prosecution witness in the trial of Benedicta, in a charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2019 filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Mrs Obadiaru, who said she came to Nigeria specifically to testify in the case and to clear her name, was led in evidence by the prosecuting lawyer, Wisdom Madaki.

The witness said Benedicta made her believe that Ese was in the UK to further her studies and that the defendant also made a promise to transfer some money into the girl’s account for her upkeep during the period of her stay.

Mrs Obadiaru said: “The defendant is my childhood friend, she called me from Nigeria and pleaded with me to accommodate Cynthia Ese for a period of seven days.

“This was with the understanding that she will transfer an undisclosed amount of money to my account to give her to secure accommodation.

“I gave the money to Cynthia after it came 17 days later, and I dropped her at the train station where Olayinka came to meet her and I didn’t see her again after that day.”

The witness said she was later arrested in the UK, tried and convicted, with Olayinka and some others, for agreeing to accommodate Ese.

“I was released after eight months with a tag on my leg for four months. Before then, I was a social worker and nurse. My name has now been struck off the register. I am barred from work and also on travel protective order,” she said.

Mrs Obadiaru said her petition to the IGP informed the investigation the police conducted following which a charge was filed against Benedicta by the police, having found that she has a case to answer.

“I have not come to revenge. I just want my life back,” the witness said.

Benedicta is, in the charge, alleged to have conspired with Mrs Oyomiye Lamidi (said to be at large) in 2011 to traffic Ese to the UK for sexual exploitation.

The offence, according to the prosecution, is punishable under Section 27 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement Amendment Act, 2015.

The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo has adjourned till March next year for the continuation of trial.