29/10/2012

Nigeria Sex Trafficker Jailed

A man who trafficked teenage girls from Nigeria to Europe for prostitution while carrying out "juju" witchcraft rituals has been jailed for 20 years.

Osezua Osolase, 42, from Gravesend, Kent took poor, poverty-stricken orphans to Europe on the promise of a better life, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

He was found guilty of five counts of trafficking, one of rape and one of sexual activity with a child.

Judge Adele Williams said Mr Osolase was devoid of conscience and compassion.

A six-week trial heard how "juju rituals" were used scare the man’s three vulnerable victims, one of whom was aged as young as 14.

Osolase took the girls into the UK and to his home in Gravesend. He then sent them to work as prostitutes on the Continent.

They were intimidated with supposed witchcraft ceremonies, which included extracting blood from the girls and cutting their head and pubic hair. They were then forced under an oath of silence.

"You were dealing in exploitation and manipulation and degradation," Judge Williams told Osolase.

"You are undoubtedly a very, very dishonest man. You are arrogant and manipulative, you are devoid of conscience, devoid of any compassion to your victims."

The court heard how he raped one girl knowing he had HIV, the judge describing it as a "seriously aggravating" feature.

He was initially stopped at Stansted airport in April 2011 while attempting to board a plane.

Dense lawyer Anthony Orchard QC said: "Mr Osolase acknowledges and regrets the consequences of his actions in relation to taking the girls out of the UK, and he has to bear the consequences of those actions."

It was recommended that Osolase be deported once he has served his sentence.

(IT)

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