Pastor bags 14 year jail sentence for trafficking two kids in Kaduna State

A Kaduna State-based cleric identified as Pastor  Bawa Madaki, was handed a 14 year jail sentence without an option of fine by Justice Haruna Offor of a High Court in Nasarawa State, who presided over the trafficking charges slammed on him by The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.Pastor Bawa Madaki who was arraigned before the judge on two count charge of trafficking two children aged five and seven years old, deceitfully took two underage children from their parents in the Zanzo Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

One of the kids was sent to Lagos State in an ‘illegal adoption’ arrangement and the other to Abuja as a domestic worker, thus depriving their parents of the children. Josiah Emerole, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, told newsmen that the trial of the Pastor commenced on June 23, 2015.

“A cleric, Pastor Bawa Madaki, from Kaduna State, has been sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment for child trafficking. The accused was arraigned on two counts of fraudulently procuring two underage children from their parents. The trial commenced on June 23, 2015, and on Monday, March 26, 2018, the court found the accused guilty. The Director-General, NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, has therefore cautioned the public against illegal adoption and engagement of underage children as domestic workers, who are often maltreated and abused by their employers. We warn detractors to desist from such acts as the long arm of the law will catch up with them if they fail to do so. This brings the convictions secured by NAPTIP to 342″ he said.

Reacting to the judgement, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah- Donli, praised the tenacity of the prosecuting officers and the judiciary for ensuring that justice is served in this case. She also used the opportunity to caution the public against illegal adoption and engaging underage children as domestic workers who, according to her, are often maltreated and abused by their employers.