Two Nigerians have been sentenced to 20 years in prison each by a court in Ghana. They were found guilty of trafficking other Nigerians into Ghana under the false promise of jobs. Once there, they were allegedly forced into cybercrime.
The suspects, Kingsley Ndifon, 29, and Emmanuel Akong, 25, were convicted by Circuit Court ‘B’ in Tema after a full trial.
A statement from the Ghana Police Service on Facebook on Wednesday, which our correspondent saw on Friday, said the two men lured Nigerian nationals to Ghana. They promised them jobs but instead held them captive and forced them into internet fraud.
The police arrested the suspects on August 20, 2023, in Sebrepor, a suburb of Tema. This followed a distress call made to the Afienya District Police Command about several people being held against their will.
A police patrol team, along with local residents, raided the house and rescued 11 Nigerian nationals who were confined there. The officers arrested the two suspects and found 16 laptops and an iPad during a search of the place.
Investigations showed that the victims had been recruited from Nigeria with promises of jobs. But once they arrived in Ghana, they were forced to take part in cyber-related crimes.
According to the police, the suspects took the victims' mobile phones and ID cards. They then compelled them to commit internet fraud using laptops that they provided.
The investigation also revealed that the victims were fed only once a day. They suffered severe physical abuse if they did not follow orders.
"They were allegedly beaten with laptop cables and machetes, resulting in injuries, including cutlass wounds," the Ghana Police Service reported.
Investigators found that the victims were malnourished and in bad health when they were rescued.
The two men were later brought before Circuit Court ‘B’ in Tema, presided over by Her Honour Naomi Adusei Amamiampong Kucour. They faced charges of conspiracy to commit crime, human trafficking, and causing harm.
At the end of the trial, the court found both men guilty of human trafficking and causing harm. Each received a 20-year sentence for human trafficking and a 10-year sentence for causing harm. Both sentences will run at the same time, meaning they will each serve 20 years in prison.
After the judgment, the Tema Regional Police Command reiterated its dedication to fighting human trafficking and cybercrime.
"The Tema Regional Police Command is committed to tackling human trafficking, cyber-related crimes, and all forms of abuse," the police stated. They also encouraged the public to report any suspected human trafficking cases or other crimes to the police.
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