New York, April 16, 2007—An Ogidi high court in Anambra State, Nigeria presided over by Hon. Justice J. I. Nweze today awarded a sum of N2,000.00 to the defendant in a N500 million human trafficking suit.

Nigeria President Obasanjo makes no significant commitment to the war against human trafficking

During resumed hearing today, the counsel to plaintiff requested for extension of time to file their statement on oath/affidavit evidence of witness and list of witness.

The counsel to defendant Barrister Titus Eze complained that the delay tactics of the plaintiff had caused him and his client a lot of inconvenience and costs, and as a result asked for a sum of N20,000.00. The court granted N2,000.00 instead.

Barrister Titus Eze also complained to the court that the plaintiff had again intimidated another witness. The court warned the plaintiff that witness intimidation is illegal and criminal offence, which could land him in jail.

Africans In America News Watch investigation shows that this is the second time the defendant complained that the plaintiff is intimidating their witnesses. The defendant had complained that the suit instituted by the plaintiff Mr. Anthony Ezeonu against an American-based human rights advocate, Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna since November 2004 had been stalled due to various delay tactics employed by the plaintiff.

Africans In America News Watch investigation also reveals that already, the counsel to the plaintiff Barrister Andrew Uzuagu is facing professional misconduct/ disciplinary hearing before the Nigerian Body of Benchers for giving misleading information to the court on May 20, 2005 in another attempt to delay the trial.

Africans In America News Watch investigation further reveals that complaints against Barrister Uzuagu had been investigated by the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association determined that the allegations against him were substantiated and referred the matter to the Nigerian Body of Benchers’ Disciplinary Panel for trial.

United States State Department monitors global effort in the war against human trafficking

In a reaction after today’s hearing, the defendant, Mr. Ezekwenna expressed satisfaction that the court is taking notes of the delay tactics of the plaintiff by awarding this cost.

The defendant, Mr. Ezekwenna had maintained that the suit is frivolous and has no merit. He further stated the suit was clear abuse of process of the court intended to intimidate and harass him and other activists pursuing global war against human trafficking.

The suit closely watched by governments and global anti-trafficking-in-person network was adjourned to April 30, 2007 for pre-trial conference.