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House Of Reps Passes Bill To Check Human Trafficking

The House of Representatives has passed through the second reading, a bill seeking to end trafficking in persons and sale of new born babies. The … Continue reading House Of Reps Passes Bill To Check Human Trafficking


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Human TraffickingThe House of Representatives has passed through the second reading, a bill seeking to end trafficking in persons and sale of new born babies.

The bill, if passed to law, would end harbouring of pregnant persons under the age of 18 years as well as selling or attempting to sell new-born babies in the country.

Eddie Mbadiwe, who is sponsoring the bill, described human trafficking as a serious crime which deserves to be punished by the law. To fight the menace, the lawmaker proposed a 10-year jail term for the offender.

The second legislative arm is, however, amending the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Law Enforcement Act 2004.

This is in a bid to check the growing cases of what has come to be known in some parts of the country as baby production factory where pregnant young ladies are kept and their newly born babies are sold off.

The bill was supported unanimously by lawmakers in the House. It has been referred to the Committee on Human Rights and Justice for further legislative work.