NAPTIP allegedly locks up man, mother of two illegally

Following a video allegation by a lady in Oman, a country in the Middle East, which was widely shared on the social media, a Nigerian agent, Peter Ademehintoye, has been arrested for human trafficking by the agent of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

According to the lady, it was alleged that she was made to travel under false notion and what she met wasn’t what was bargained for. But due to the fact that her plea to the agent to facilitate her return to Nigeria was ignored, she had no choice but to cry out to Nigerians to save her.

Based on this video revelation, the NAPTIP swung into action, following the details of the agent given by the lady in the video, and arrested Ademehintoye in a commando style on May 12.

It is interesting to note that rather than being invited for questioning, the agent was locked up after stating his own side of the story. He met his bail condition on May 17, 2020 but he is yet be to freed.

According to him, the dehumanisation suffered in detention was nothing to write home about. He claimed that despite the rampaging coronavirus virus, his cell was crowded during which he fall sick and exhibited symptoms related with COVID-19.

“I insisted on getting checked up, and the NAPTIP official dumped me at the infectious disease hospital, Yaba,” he said.

Ademehintoye claimed that the agents of NAPTIP didn’t look back and even when his result came back negative and the doctors advised he should go home, he was faced with the dilemma of whether to go home or the NAPTIP office.

Acting on a lawyer friend’s advice, Femi Oguntuase, the man went home because no provision was made for him.

“Strictly following my advise, I told him to report there first thing on Monday (yesterday) morning which he did,” Oguntuase said.

Ademehintoyealso revealed that his wife, Abosede Ademehintoye, has also been arrested.

“But something happened the day I was being moved to the hospital,” the man said, “My wife was fortunate to be around and being the only time she had access to me, she insisted she talk to her husband but the officials refused.

“She wouldn’t have it and then there was a scuffle which led to her being pinned down and allegedly dealt some heavy blows. The official claimed she tore his or her uniform (but a source close to the place claimed they dont wear uniform),” he narrated.

There and then, the mother of two was arrested for assault on an officer and blocking investigation by the NAPTIP without handling her over to the police since the agency has no jurisdiction on her alleged offence.

According to a Lagos based lawyer, Olutunbosun Osifowora, the action of the agents of NAPTIP is illegal.

“If someone has met bail he should not be held, and besides the case wasn’t properly investigated before pouncing on the guy,” he said.

Freelanews can authoritatively confirm that both the husband and wife are currently in detention.