COURT JAILS WOMAN TWO YEARS FOR PROCURING 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

A Borno State High Court sitting in Maiduguri has sentenced a 37-year-old woman, Fatima Sanda, to two years’ imprisonment for procuring a 16-year-old girl for sexual exploitation.

The conviction was secured by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Monday, according to a statement published by the agency on its Facebook page.

The court, presided over by Justice Aisha M. Ndume, also ordered Sanda to pay N500,000 in compensation to the victim.

NAPTIP said Sanda was convicted for procuring the minor and subjecting her to sexual exploitation by other persons, contrary to Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, as amended.

The statement read, “A High Court of Justice, Court 10, sitting in Maiduguri, Borno State, presided over by Hon. Justice Aisha M. Ndume, has convicted Fatima Sanda (37, female) for procuring a 16-year-old female victim and subjecting her to sexual exploitation by other persons, contrary to Section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, as amended.

“She was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and ordered to pay N500,000 in compensation to the victim.”

The conviction came about a month after a Niger State High Court sitting in Minna sentenced a 27-year-old man, Hussaini Suleiman, to seven years’ imprisonment for sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl at his residence behind the Prison Quarters in Minna.

NAPTIP said Suleiman pleaded guilty to the offence.

According to the agency, the case was referred to its Niger State Command by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state on April 16, 2026, following a report of the rape of the minor.

The statement added that Suleiman was arraigned before Court 8 of the Niger State High Court, Minna, on September 10, 2026, after admitting to the offence.

NAPTIP reiterated its commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting children and other vulnerable persons from sexual exploitation.