A 56-year-old woman, Nma Lilian Achumba, has been incarcerated at the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Afara, Umuahia, Abia State, sequel to her arraignment before a Magistrates’ Court situated in Umuahia on charges of recruiting and abducting 21 young girls for sexual exploitation and child trafficking.
Achumba is standing trial for recruiting and sexually exploiting young girls in Umunkpeyi Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area; and also at Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State in June 2023.
Achumba, said to have previously worked at the Nma Charity and Rehabilitation Centre in Abia State, has entered a plea of not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Ngozi Lekwa, said the charges fall under the purview of Section 13, Subsections 1, 2, and C of the Trafficking in Persons Enforcement and Administration Act 2015; as well as Section 86 of the Criminal Code, as applicable within Abia State, noting that the Magistrates’ Court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate the case.
She therefore ordered the transfer of the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution in the Abia State Ministry of Justice, Umuahia.
The proceedings have been adjourned until November 7, 2023, to await a report of compliance. During this period, Nma Achumba will be detained at the Correctional Centre in Umuahia.
Expressing the commitment of the state to bring wrongdoers to justice and uphold its reputation, the Abia State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechuckwu Uwanna, said the state will not tolerate illegal activities that could tarnish its image.
The Attorney General was represented by Mr. Vincent Chukwu, the Director of Public Prosecution in the ministry.
Reports of similar illicit activities have surfaced in regions including Osisioma, Isiala Ngwa North, and Umuahia North local government areas of Abia.
