AN APPRAISAL OF THE LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC IN PERSONS IN NIGERIA

By

Author

Presented To

Department of Law

ABSTRACT
The battle against human trafficking in Nigeria is enormous and a number of measures have been employed in ensuring that the progress in the said criminal act is brought to an end. The said criminal act had affected the liberty of many individuals as victims. Liberty as a fundamental right is an important element of an individual’s life as everything and inspiring are fashioned by persons who can labour in freedom. Hence, a human trafficking free country is a wealthy country. As such, Nigeria as a nation has provided adequate safeguards for the protection of its citizens against human trafficking. The research was informed by the increasing wave of human trafficking in Nigeria and an assertion by the former Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, Mrs. Jedy-Agba Beatrice that six out of ten trafficked persons are Nigerians. This is evidenced from the high number (10,815) of rescued victims of human trafficking by NAPTIP since inception to March, 2017, although, there is absence of accurate data on human trafficking in Nigeria. Human trafficking is a criminal act and a violation of fundamental human rights of the victims. The crime had resulted in promoting corruption in Nigeria and it had undermined the efforts of government at that direction. The research appraised the national legal frameworks that prohibit human trafficking in Nigeria. It also examined institutions established for the prohibition of human trafficking and protection of victims of the said trafficking in Nigeria. The research aimed at showing the role of law in prohibiting human trafficking in Nigeria. The research adopted as methodology the doctrinal approach which entailed the use of relevant literatures including national legislations, international instruments and reports. The research finds that Nigeria is a signatory to major international treaty on trafficking in persons and the prohibition of human trafficking is not directly addressed in the Nigeria constitution. It also finds the existence of institutions and other laws in Nigeria aimed at curtailing human trafficking amid challenges. The challenges include but not limited to difficulties in identifying victims of human trafficking and lack of cooperation after identification for the purpose of further investigation and prosecution of traffickers. The research therefore, recommended the amendments of the relevant human trafficking laws to streamline the provisions including the constitution. It also recommended concerted effort at curbing the menace of corruption in Nigeria.