The Federal Government has approved the application of the
whistle blowing policy in the fight against human trafficking in
Nigeria.
A statement issued on Monday,
by Vincent Adekoye, Head, Press &Public Relations (NAPTIP) approval
was conveyed to the Director-General of the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Julie Okah-Donli by the Hon.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar
Malami SAN.
Read below..
The approval is sequel to a request by the Director-General
to the Federal Government to extend the Whistle Blowing Policy to
issues of human trafficking to encourage people report cases of
trafficking in persons and provide information on assets of traffickers
to the Agency without fear of reprisals.
The inclusion of human trafficking cases into the whistle
blowing policy has remained one of the cardinal plans of Okah-Donli
since she assumed office late April, 2017 and it was based on the
knowledge that many cases of human trafficking have not been tackled
because those who were aware of such incidences never reported to NAPTIP
and other relevant Agencies.
In a letter dated 7th August, 2017 and addressed to the
Director- General of NAPTIP, the Director (Solicitors Department) Z. S
Adevanju, conveyed the approval on behalf of the Hon. Attorney - General
and Minister of Justice.
He stated that the approval was given based on the fact
that the request by NAPTIP for the inclusion of Human Trafficking cases
in the whistle blowing policy of the present administration was not in
conflict with any extant law.
With the latest development, anybody can now give
verifiable information on any case of human trafficking including assets
of human traffickers for possible confiscation through legal
proceedings to NAPTIP.
Reacting to this development, The Director - General
expressed excitement, stating that with the approval, the coast has
become clearer for informants to come up with verifiable information on
human traffickers adding that all information given to the Agency will be treated with all required confidentiality.
While encouraging members of the public to step forward
with information, she added that the Agency was working out modalities
for reward to informants.
She however, appealed that people should not use the policy for vendetta as the Agency will not take kindly to such practices.
She also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government
for granting the request within a very short time, added that such a
gesture was an indication of the present administration's readiness to
end human trafficking in Nigeria.
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