Wanted leader of international trafficking ring Christy Osagie nabbed at Abuja Airport
Uadiale Christiana Jacob, aka Christy Evan Osagie: nabbed at Abuja Airport
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Operatives of Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, has arrested one Uadiale Christiana Jacob, aka Christy Evan Osagie, a convicted leader of an international human trafficking network who has been on the wanted list of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for the past five years at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The notorious trafficker who is popularly known as Christy Gold by her gang members was arrested on arrival in Nigeria at the Abuja Airport on December 31, 2024 by the NIS officers.
She has been put watch-list by the NIS since on February 22, 2023, at NAPTIP’s request, Vincent Adekoye, NAPTIP Press Officer said in a statement on Friday.
According to the statement, Christy Gold, operates across the Middle Eastern countries with base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
She was arrested on on arrival in Nigeria from Dubai for new year celebration.
Detailing how she ran way from Nigeria after after she was arrested and arraigned for human trafficking and how she was eventually arrested, Adekoye said, “It would be recalled that on the 18th March 2020, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Ikeja Airport Command shared intelligence with NAPTIP Joint Border Task Force/Benin Satellite Office (JBTF/BSO) in respect of one Uadiale Christiana Jacob, aka Christy Evan Osagie, aka Christy Gold of No 15 Osagie Street, Off 2nd Power Line, Egbon Estate, Benin City, Edo State.
“Uadiale Christiana Jacob popularly known as Christy Gold is a senior member of an organized human trafficking syndicate notorious for the recruitment, trafficking and sexually exploiting of underage Nigerian girls in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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“Following the Agency’s investigation into the alleged offense to establish culpability, Christiana Uadiale Jacob was arrested by NAPTIP in Ikpoba Hill area, Benin City on the 13th of October 2020 for her involvement in the trafficking of aged Nigerian girls to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for forced prostitution.
“She was charged to the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State on the 25th of November 2020, where she was granted bail.
“While on Court bail, Christiana Uadiale Jacob violated the terms of the bail and absconded to Dubai. After failing severally to appear before the Court, a Bench Warrant was therefore issued by the sitting Judge on the 3rd of November 2021 for her arrest.
“To get Christiana Uadiale Jacob to face justice for her crimes, NAPTIP sought the assistance and collaboration of the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, National Central Bureau (NCB), INTERPOL Nigeria, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the United Arab Emirates Police for her arrest and extraction to Nigeria.
“Even while she tried to evade justice, NAPTIP did not relent and as a result of our diligent prosecution of the case, Christiana Uadiale Jacob was convicted for human trafficking in absentia by Honourable Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State on the 21st of March 2024 with sentencing being awaited whenever she is rearrested and brought before the Honourable Court.
“Luck however ran out on her on the 31st of December 2024, as Officers Nigeria Immigration Service acting in respect of NAPTIP’s request for watch-listing dated 22nd February 2023, nabbed her on arrival to Nigeria.”
However, NAPTIP in the statement alerted that Christy Gold suspected other accomplices, one Michael Nduka, Osas Wiseman, Vivian, and a certain Prophet John in Lagos and other field officers who assist in the recruitment and subsequent transfer of victims to her are still on the run.
