Fresh arrest in kidnapper’s case

The police have made fresh arrest in the human trafficking case in which Samuel Udoetuk, a Nigerian who is the main suspect in the kidnapping of three girls in Takoradi, is also part of the trafficking syndicate.

The accused person who was only identified as Emma was on Monday remanded in BNI custody by an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Georgina Mensah-Datsa.

The prosecution said BNI was investigating the issue and also pursuing more suspects believed to be part of the syndicate.

Meanwhile, Lily Atutigah, an Assistant State Attorney, told the trial court presided over by Justice George Buadi that the suspect was arrested after his accomplices, Robert Nana Kwame Hayford, aka Fire, and Nii Oblitey Commey, aka Awudome, were also remanded for further investigations into the matter.

New Twist

She said the suspect had already appeared before another High Court judge (Justice Mensah Datsa) and they were looking forward to merging the docket.

The State Attorney told the court that a new charge sheet was prepared following the arrest of the new suspect and pleaded with the court for a short adjournment to enable the prosecution to put the two charge sheets together for trial.

The court, presided over by Justice George Buadi, adjourned the matter to November 19 for continuation.

Trafficking Syndicate

Samuel Udoetuk Wills, 28, is currently serving a prison term for escaping from lawful police custody after the Takoradi girls went missing, but he is being accused in the instant human trafficking case.

The Nigerian and some five others have been charged with trafficking a woman from rural Accra to Tema, holding her hostage for eight months and offering her to different men for commercial sex and collected proceeds from the illegal enterprise.

The woman was said to have resisted the act on many occasions but Samuel Udoetuk repeatedly raped her as punishment for her resistance.

The victim, according to the police, was subjected to inhumane treatment, including the insertion of an artificial penis into her vagina.

Eventually, the victim became pregnant and has since given birth to twins.

Other Suspects

Apart from Samuel Udoetuk, the other five accused person are Robert Nana Kwame Hayford, aka Fire; Nii Oblitey Commey, aka Awudome; Clara Ekisi, Chief Belo and Budu.

They are each facing a count of conspiracy and human trafficking.

Kwame Hayford and Oblitey Commey were yesterday hauled before an Accra High Court and the charges as well as the facts read to them.

Their plea was not taken as the case is still under investigations.

The other accused persons, Clara Ekisi, Chief Belo and Budu are still on the run, while Samuel Udoetuk, who is in prison, was not brought to court.