An Abuja High Court has dismissed a suit filed by Miss Leah Idowu against the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) demanding N50 million as compensation for violation of her fundamental human rights.
Also joined in the suit, which was dismissed on Thursday, was the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons (NAPTIP).
In the suit, Idowu claimed that she was arrested by officials of the NIS on April 5, 2011 with 18 other girls at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on her way to Cairo.
Idowu claimed that she was living in Egypt and only came to Nigeria in December 2010 for her marriage, which took place in March 2011.
She also told the court that she was handed over to the officials of NAPTIP, who unlawfully detained her for 12 days without being charged for any offence.
Idowu prayed the court to order the NIS and NAPTIP to pay her N50 million as damages, for what she called the psychological torture, harassment and ill treatment.
Delivering judgment, Justice Abubakar Umar held that the NIS and NAPTIP acted within the limits of their constitutional responsibilities.
Umar also held that the NIS stopped Idowu from travelling on the suspicion that she was being trafficked.
The judge further held that Idowu failed to prove that she was molested, ill treated or subjected to any dehumanising treatment while in detention.
Umar, however, ordered the NIS to release Idowu’s international passport, which was seized at the airport.
The judge, who spoke after the judgment, warned young girls not to allow them to be trafficked.
He called for a massive enlightenment on the dangers ahead of ladies going on the promise of getting jobs for them.
“Nigeria is a blessed country. If you don’t have food, you cannot starve because a neighbour or relative can give you something to eat, but in foreign countries, you are on your own.
“The countries you are going to do not need you, and would not assist you if you are in trouble. If you follow them (traffickers) you will be at their mercy, and they will use and dump you.
He called on the NIS and NAPTIP to expose and stop those people behind trafficking of young girls.
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