Seven Nigerians accused of being members of an organized criminal ring have been charged in an Accra Circuit Court with human trafficking.
The accused, identified as Osas Vincent, Kennedy Anthony, Godson Iyan Inye, Junior Ayala Ariyo, Desmond Johnson, Andrew Gabriel, and Ebedebi Ayaye Friday, have been charged with 24 charges of human trafficking, assault, and participation in organized crime.
Meanwhile, the group’s leader and eighth suspect, Williams Ogbemuda Idemudia, is on the run.
The accused disputed all allegations against them in court, which was presided over by Rosemond Baah Tosu, and were remanded to appear again on October 17, 2022.
Bail Application
In his bail application, counsel for the accused, Theophilus Donkor, stated that there was no evidence before the court to establish that if given bail, his clients would violate the bail terms.
He further stated that his clients had established addresses, reminding the court that the constitution did not discriminate based on nationality.
The prosecution, lead by the EOCO’s Head of Legal and Prosecution, Abu Issah, rejected the bail motion.
The presiding judge subsequently remanded the suspects on grounds that counsel had failed to demonstrate that his clients had fixed places of abode.
Prosecution’s facts
According to the prosecutor, on August 29, 2022, EOCO received an email from the Nigerian National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) requesting the Office’s intervention in the rescue of some Nigerian victims of trafficking who were being exploited for Cyber-crime purposes, as well as possible arrest and prosecution.
He informed the court that investigations indicated that the eight accused were members of an organized criminal cell, all of whom were Nigerian nationals, working together to perpetrate the crime of human trafficking.
Further investigation indicated that the gang is based in Nigeria and Ghana.
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The prosecutor further stated that investigations revealed that Idemudia recruited Nigerian citizens from several states in Nigeria and transferred them to Ghana by taking advantage of their vulnerabilities as unemployed people and promising them work.
Upon arriving in Ghana, however, the recruits were met and imprisoned without their knowledge at Manhean, Obeyeyie by the seven accused individuals who taught and engaged them in Internet fraud.
“It is in light of the above facts that the suspects have been arraigned before this Honourable Court for prosecution,” the prosecutor told the court.
SOURCE: GRAPHICONLINE
