South African court upholds 18-year sentence of Nigerian convicted for human trafficking

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, South Africa, has affirmed the conviction and 18-year sentence of Chinedu Justice Obasi, a Nigerian man.

In September 2018, Obasi, alongside his co-defendant Obioma Benjamin Abba, were convicted and sentenced for charges bordering on human trafficking.

Obasi was sentenced to 18 years for human trafficking, and violating the Immigration Act by marrying a South African woman to obtain citizenship, without living with her.

Abba was sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

Court documents seen by Independent News Eswatini showed that Obasi harboured two women, identified as Busisiwe and Puleng, in a flat in Pretoria, where he allegedly forced them into prostitution between April and September 2016.

Obasi was said to have taken the earnings of the two women, controlled their movements, while supplying them with drugs to maintain dependency.

The two women were handed over to Abba, who continued the exploitation.

Dissatisfied with the conviction, Obasi approached the appellate court. He argued that the trial court ignored his evidence and overlooked his personal circumstances.

According to Independent News Eswatini, Graham Moshoana rejected Obasi’s appeal, adding that the appellant did not testify.

Moshoana said the evidence showed exploitation, describing the case as an example of modern-day slavery.

“Human trafficking exists because people are vulnerable to exploitation due to poverty, lack of education and desperation,” he said.

“Victims are often abused, confused and disoriented. People are trafficked for sex, labour and other related reasons.”