Three women –

The accused are facing a five-count charge bordering on child trafficking before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The trio were arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The Prosecutor, Mrs Idayat Balogun, told the court that the accused committed the alleged offences between March 2015 and March 2016.

She said that Yakubu (35), gave out one Miss Victory Imazokeke as a domestic worker to Umaru (43) and Adegunsoye (61), with the knowledge that the girl would be exploited.

Balogun also said that the accused, who employed Imazokeke as a domestic worker, actually exploited her.

“The accused exploited and denied to pay the 16-year-old girl for the services she rendered while working for them as a domestic servant,” she said.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 23 (1) (b) and 27 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

The accused persons denied the charges.

Counsel to the three accused, Aiyefen Obuch and O. O. Adeleye, made an oral application, urging the court to admit the accused to bail on liberal terms.

Justice Hadizat Shagari asked the counsel to the accused persons to put their application in writing.

She remanded the accused in prison and adjourned the case until May 18 for hearing and ruling on bail application.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that three women busted into tears as the remand order was pronounced.