Tema Court Jails Two Human Traffickers 20 Years for Forcing Nigerians Into Cyber Fraud
The Tema Circuit Court ‘B’ has sentenced two men to 20 years’ imprisonment each after finding them guilty of trafficking Nigerian nationals to Ghana under the pretext of offering them employment before allegedly forcing them into cyber fraud.
The convicts, Kingsley Ndifon, 29, and Emmanuel Akong, 25, were convicted of human trafficking by the court, presided over by Naomi Adusei Amamiampong Kucour.
In addition to the human trafficking conviction, the court found both men guilty of causing harm and handed them 10-year prison sentences on that charge. However, the sentences will run concurrently, meaning each convict will serve 20 years in prison.
The case stems from an operation carried out on August 20, 2023, after the Afienya District Police Command received information that several individuals were being held against their will in a house at Sebrepor, a suburb of Tema.
Police officers, with support from residents, raided the premises, arrested the two suspects and rescued 11 Nigerian nationals who were allegedly being confined in the house.
During a search of the property, investigators recovered 16 laptop computers and an iPad from rooms occupied by the suspects.
Police investigations revealed that the victims had been lured from Nigeria with promises of legitimate employment but were allegedly forced into internet fraud operations upon arriving in Ghana.
According to investigators, the suspects confiscated the victims’ mobile phones and identity documents, preventing them from leaving the house while compelling them to engage in cyber-related activities using laptops supplied by the traffickers.
The victims were also reportedly subjected to inhumane living conditions. Police said they were fed only once a day and were frequently assaulted whenever they failed to comply with instructions.
Investigators further revealed that the victims were allegedly beaten with laptop charging cables and machetes, sustaining injuries, including cutlass wounds. They were also found to be malnourished and in poor health when they were rescued.
The prosecution subsequently charged the two men with conspiracy to commit human trafficking, human trafficking and causing harm, leading to their conviction and sentencing by the Tema Circuit Court.
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