The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has dismissed five of its staff including a Deputy Director over misconduct and corruption.
This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the Press Officer of the NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, on Wednesday, he noted that, five staff including a Deputy Director has been found guilty and therefore convicted for committing offenses ranging from corruption, bribery, leaking of confidential information, stealing and alteration.
The statement reads “the offenses ranged from corruption; demanding and receiving bribes from suspects and relatives; leaking confidential information to suspects that endangered the lives of colleagues; violation of oath of secrecy; stealing and alteration of official records and absence without official leave.
“The other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting for bribe from a suspect of human trafficking, while one officer was demoted by one rank for negligence of duty.
“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 (SSC) which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.
“Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has convicted a Law Enforcement Officer and sentenced him to prison. He was convicted on a two-count charge of trafficking, contrary to section 26 (2) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (2015) and was sentenced to 5years on each count. This is NAPTIP’s 37th conviction and counting for the year 2023.”
