The agency secured a court order from the Federal High Court in Calabar, which authorised it to seal the two brothels. The court order listed the brothels as Onwuka Hotel and Suites and De Papes Corner Hotel both in Calabar.
In suit numbers FHC/CA/MISC/62/2019 and FHC/CA/MISC/63/2019, between the complainant, Federal Republic of Nigeria and defendants Okon John-Nsi, Onwuka hotel and Edem John-Nsi, De Papes Corner hotel, the court ordered an interim seal of the brothels.
It would be recalled that in the early part of May, 2019, the operatives of the Department of State Service in Calabar arrested 59 commercial sex workers in the two brothels, which were also allegedly used for child trafficking.
The sex workers, mostly underage and the owners of the brothels arrested, where later handed over to NAPTIP by the DSS for prosecution. The case was filed by the complainant, Mr Oba Jacob (NAPTIP) on May 17 2019.
NAPTIP in their motion ex-parte prayed the court to order the interim seal of the brothels pending the outcome of the criminal investigation against the defendants.
The presiding Judge, Justice S. A. Amobeda, granted the complainant’s prayer that the brothels be sealed up pending the determination of criminal investigation against the defendant’s.
“In support to the motion paper sworn to by one Mr Oba Jacob of NAPTIP, filed in Court Registry on the 17th day of May, 2019, and the court granted the application.
“An interim order is hereby granted attaching Onwuka Hotel and Suites and De Papes Corner Hotel pending the determination of criminal investigation against the defendants.”
