The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has dismissed five staff for bribery and leaking confidential information to suspected criminals.
NAPTIP’s Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, in a statement on Wednesday, disclosed that a deputy director was among the dismissed officers.
According to Adekoye, the officers were engaged in misconducts like demanding and receiving bribes from suspects and relatives.
He also said the officers were violating the oath of secrecy, stealing and alteration of official records and being absent without official leave.
He added that some of them were leaking confidential information to suspects, saying the act is endangering the lives of their colleagues.
He said: “These offences are all contrary to provisions of the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations. Two other officers were demoted by two ranks for soliciting bribes from a suspect of human trafficking, while one officer was demoted by one rank for negligence of duty.
“The disciplinary actions followed the approval of the Governing Board of the Agency at its meeting of May 25, 2023. At that meeting, the board considered and ratified the decision of the agency’s Senior Staff Committee which earlier sat on the disciplinary matters in accordance with the Public Service Rules and other extant laws and regulations.”
The press officer also disclosed that a law enforcement officer in NAPTIP had been convicted by a Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto State.
He said the officer was convicted on two counts of trafficking, contrary to section 26 (2) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (2015) and was sentenced to five years on each count.
