A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

Calling in the Law

Once a girl is hooked by a trafficker, a "contract" is drawn up under which she agrees to pay a sum of money in exchange for the chance to travel abroad. The sums involved can amount to thousands of U.S. dollars. Many times the contracts are drawn up by phony lawyers. They rarely mention the real destination, just in case a girl is courageous enough to charge for breach of contract.

It is just one of many ways in which traffickers break the law. Many of the Nigerian girls enter Europe on forged passports. As a result, forgery flourishes in Benin City. Indeed, the skill of the forgers has astounded Western diplomats. The Italian embassy has hired a firm in Benin City to investigate. It has reportedly found whole "factories" of forged documents.

The traffickers often use enforcers to ensure that their victims honor their contract-no matter how phony it might have been. In one recent example, recounted earlier, a young woman agreed to pay her traffickers $36,000 before she left Benin City. When she did not return the traffickers sent thugs to collect their debt from her family.

The police seemed more interested in prosecuting the girl's family than the traffickers, and the Catholic sisters intervened on behalf of the family. Eventually they persuaded the Police Chief of Benin City that a travesty of justice was about to occur.

At this point, Eric Okojie, a lawyer in Benin City, took over the negotiations on behalf of the sisters. Eric struck a deal under which the traffickers would appear in Lagos to present their case. He hoped that this would flush them out and might even lead to an unprecedented counter-suit. But they called his bluff and never showed up.

At least Eric had shown that lawyers can be on the right side when it comes to trafficking. Eric Okojie is a model citizen. Two years ago, he linked up with his law partner Victor Ehizogwie to found the Association of Catholic Lawyers, a voluntary group in Benin City. The Association now gives free legal advice to deserving causes like the campaign against trafficking. The idea is to give something back to the community, says Victor.

The Christian lawyers are also trying to ease some of the pressure on the poor of Benin City, who are rarely able to afford lawyers. This renders them vulnerable to a legal system that has been frighteningly indifferent to due process. Suspected criminals often languish for months-even years-in jail before even coming to trial because their files get lost with the police. Family members lose track of their relatives. Very few can afford bail.

In spite of their commitment to the campaign against trafficking, Victor and Eric are under no illusions about the legal challenge that lies ahead. The main obstacle to prosecuting traffickers is the reluctance of victims to come forward. It would take months, if not longer, for a case to be heard, says Victor. During this time, the victim would be at considerable risk.

One of the girls who has managed to return to Nigeria has laid down a clear marker in her village by registering with a lawyer in the event that she is intimidated. But neither Eric nor Victor expect her to press charges against the locals who lured her into the trafficking in the first place, even thought she knows their names and where they live.