A Nigerian human trafficking kingpin, Ediozi Odi, has been sentenced to 129 years imprisonment in addition to 6 life sentences in Pretoria, South Africa.
Underage victims are from poor homes and were promised a better life, but had no idea that they were entering the convict’s brothel – a house disguised as a barbershop.
Once inside, the girls were immediately forced to smoke highly addictive drugs manufactured and sold by Odi. Once the victims were exposed to the drug, they were immediately hooked and would do anything to get their hands on it. The girls, mostly aged 13 and 14, told the court that once high on the drugs, Odi himself raped them “to teach them the tools of the trade” as an initiation into the sex trade.
According to the report, the victims were locked up in the house for the duration of their stay, while Odi send his workers to prowl the streets for prospective clients. They were also locked up in a dungeon (pictured) under the floor of the house whenever the police raided.
A 14-year-old teenager was only rescued after a year, while two other victims were able to escape after a week, when the police raided the house following a tip-off that the brothel master was going to move them to another premises.
The girls were paid for their prostitution by means of drugs and they got hardly any food. The brothel master took all their proceeds.
The court also heard evidence that some police officials were bribed to turn a blind eye as to what was happening in the brothel. Judge Ranchod said that on the other hand, these girls were saved by other SAPS officials who took their work seriously.
Odi, who was convicted on 24 of the 29 charges against him, sat emotionless as Judge Ranchod told him “You were the kingpin.” The judge also commented that Odi was aggressive at times in court and he even threatened his co-accused.
One of the female co-accused who had been acquitted at a stage leaped from the dock where she sat next to Odi and ran to her lawyer as Odi was threatening her.
The judge referred to pictures handed to court of the dungeon where these girls were often kept, as well as the filthy and unhygienic brothel that was littered with condoms.
Judge Ranchod also referred to the fact that Odi used his co-accused Hlalele and Luke Botha as drug runners. They often had to fetch drugs from other suppliers as well as ingredients to manufacture his own drugs.
The two drug runners each received a suspended sentence for the possession of drugs, while Odi received three life sentenced on three charges of human trafficking and three more life sentences for each charge of rape.
His bid to appeal against his convictions and sentences were also turned down.
The victims have meanwhile been reunited with their parents and Hlalele, who had a baby a few weeks ago, is drug free.