GIFT EMMANUEL, Abuja
The Office of the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has commenced an extradition proceeding at the Federal High Court, Abuja, following a request from the Netherland Government for the extradition of a human trafficking suspect, Mr. Kingsley Edegbe to stand trial for the criminal charges against him in the Netherland.
Mr. Edegbe, a 50 years old man who hails from Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State was one of the suspected members of an international human trafficking syndicate investigated in 2007 during an international crackdown in eight countries including Nigeria and Netherland in an operation code named Operation KOOLVIS.
The Dutch Police authorities had successfully prosecuted three (3) other members of the human trafficking syndicate in Netherland who worked with Kingsley Edegbe as their partner in Nigeria. They are now serving various jail terms in Netherland ranging from seven to fifteen years.
As a result of the successful prosecution of the members of the human trafficking syndicate in Netherland, the Government of the Netherland made a request to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for the extradition of Mr. Kingsley Edegbe to face trial in Netherland for his involvement in human trafficking.
The extradition matter came up yesterday before the Honorable Justice A.R Mohammed of federal high court who ordered that the culprit be remanded in NAPTIP custody till the next adjourned date of 12th March, 2014.
Speaking after the court hearing, the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba said that the extradition proceeding of Mr. Kingsley Edegbe is an indication of the Agency’s determination to collaborate with international partners to stem the tide of human trafficking.
According to her, transnational organized crimes like human trafficking require synergy and collaboration, so effort to curb it must involve mutual legal assistance between law enforcement Agencies of the various countries concerned just like NAPTIP and Dutch National Prosecutors Office.
