Prosecutors from NAPTIP and state Ministries of Justice training titled “Strengthening Prosecutorial and Protection Responses to Combat Trafficking in Nigeria.” Facilitated by Prof. Cheluchi Onyemelukwe, the programme, supported by the Swiss government and organised by IOM – UN Migration in collaboration with NATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE PROHIBITION OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (NAPTIP), aimed to enhance prosecutorial capacity in handling trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM) cases through a victim-centred approach.
Participants engaged in practical sessions that reviewed case files, evidentiary procedures, and the ethical interviewing of victims. Emphasis was placed on securing confessional statements, applying the PEACE Model, and navigating international cooperation through mutual legal assistance. Case studies, simulations, and role plays allowed prosecutors to explore domestic and international trafficking, offender profiles, and complexities involving victims who later become offenders.
The programme represents a significant step in enhancing Nigeria’s justice response, promoting human rights, and ensuring victims remain central to criminal proceedings.