A Ghanaian court has sentenced two Nigerian men to 20 years in prison each for trafficking their compatriots into forced cybercrime. The Circuit Court 'B' in Tema, presided over by Her Honour Naomi Adusei Amamiampong Kucour, convicted Kingsley Ndifon, 29, and Emmanuel Akong, 25, on charges of human trafficking and causing harm.
Court hands down concurrent sentences
The court imposed a 20-year sentence for human trafficking and a concurrent 10-year term for causing harm, meaning both men will serve a total of 20 years. The verdict was announced by the Ghana Police Service in a statement published on Facebook on July 5 and seen by Legit.ng's correspondent on July 7.
The convictions stem from an incident in August 2023 when police rescued 11 Nigerian nationals held captive in a house in Sebrepor, a suburb of Tema. The victims had been lured from Nigeria with promises of legitimate employment, but upon arrival, their phones and identity documents were confiscated, and they were forced to carry out online fraud using laptops supplied by the suspects.
How the suspects were caught
On August 20, 2023, officers from the Afienya District Police Command responded to a distress call about people being held against their will. A patrol team, supported by local residents, raided the premises and freed the 11 victims. The two suspects were arrested at the scene, and authorities seized 16 laptops and an iPad.
Investigators found that the victims were fed only once a day and subjected to severe physical abuse. According to the Ghana Police Service, “They were allegedly beaten with laptop cables and machetes, resulting in injuries, including cutlass wounds.” The rescued individuals were found malnourished and in poor health.
Police reaffirm commitment after verdict
Following the conviction, the Tema Regional Police Command reiterated its dedication to combating exploitation and cybercrime. “The Tema Regional Police Command remains committed to combating human trafficking, cyber-related crimes and all forms of abuse,” the command said, urging the public to report any suspected cases of human trafficking promptly.
This case highlights the growing menace of cross-border human trafficking for cyber fraud, often referred to as 'cyber slavery'. In a related incident, a 42-year-old Nigerian, Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, was jailed for five years in the United States for orchestrating a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $3.5 million. The US Department of Justice confirmed the sentencing by US District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright on June 22 in Washington.
The Ghanaian court's decision serves as a warning to those involved in such illicit activities, reflecting a broader effort by law enforcement in the region to tackle human trafficking and cybercrime.
