THE National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dismissed a deputy director and four other officers for offences bordering on bribery, corruption and leaking confidential information to suspects.
A statement released on Wednesday, May 31, by the Press Officer of NAPTIP Vincent Adekoye, disclosed that the offences committed by the officers encompassed corruption, solicitation and acceptance of bribes from suspects and their relatives.
READ ALSO:
Online sexual exploitation: NAPTIP sets up cybersecurity response team
NAPTIP wades into ICIR’s investigation on Nigerian Air Force officer trafficking children
NAPTIP, Ministries of Information, Industry rank lowest on FOI compliance in five years
African Migrants caged, vital organs harvested in Libya – NAPTIP
Other offences committed by the officers were leaking confidential information to suspects that endangered the lives of colleagues, violating the oath of secrecy, stealing and alteration of official records and being absent without official leave.
The statement noted that the offences are all in contrast to the Public Service Rules and other extant regulations.
“These offences are all contrary to provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations. Two other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting bribes from a suspect of human trafficking, while one officer was demoted by one rank for negligence of duty.”
The statement further explained that the sanctions against the officers were approved by the Governing Board of NAPTIP during a meeting on May 25.
According to the statement, the governing board reviewed and ratified the decisions made by the agency’s Senior Staff Committee, which had previously addressed the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other applicable laws and regulations.
“The disciplinary actions followed the approval of the Governing Board of the Agency at its meeting of May 25, 2023. At that meeting, the board considered and ratified the decision of the agency’s Senior Staff Committee which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations,” the statement said.
The statement added that a law enforcement officer had been convicted and sentenced to prison by a Federal High Court in Sokoto State.
The officer was convicted on two counts of trafficking, contrary to Section 26 (2) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (2015) and was sentenced to five years on each count.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: [email protected]. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M