Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
Man, 35, Mr Kilo Ken, alias Kingsley Egharevba, has been arraigned at the National Industrial Court in Benin for allegedly impersonating a Nigeria Army officer.
He was said to have been hiding under the guise of an Army officer to be recruiting girls for the sole purpose of trafficking them abroad for prostitution.
The suspect was arraigned in the court by the Benin Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
It was gathered that the suspect was allegedly parading himself as an Army officer to carry out the crimes when he was arrested by the officers of the Army and handled over to NAPTIP for prosecution.
He appeared in court on a two-count charge of assisting one Nifemi Afolabi (F) a.k a Halima, now at large for organizing foreign travels for a victim, who promoted prostitution and knowing that the victim will be forced into prostitution in Libya.
When the charges were read to him, the suspect pleaded not guilty to offences.
NAPTIP counsel Mrs Oburoh Victoria Okanigbuan said the offences committed by the victim are contrary to and punishable under section 18 and section 14(b) respectively of the trafficking in persons Prohibition enforcement and administrative Act, 2015.
Oburoh said the suspect committed the offences in Benin City in October 2019.
The presiding judge, Justice A.A Adewemimo, who adjourned the case to June 15, 2023 for hearing, ordered the suspects to continue with the administrative bail pending when the application for his bail is formally filed before the court.