Some Nigerians have been arrested in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for allegedly running a prostitution ring.
38-year-old Sharon Blessing Chibuike, 27-year-old Promise Ben David, 19-year-old Chinedu Emmanuel Ibekweo, and 29-year-old Esther Montse, are facing crimes of Forced Detention with Intent Prostitution, Encouragement of Prostitution, Prostitution, and Intentional Sexual Sex Detention.
The facts were reported by a Police officer, Vasvi Özbey, in a sworn testimony in court on Wednesday, noting that the police acted on a complaint filed by “OA” at the Nicosia Judicial Branch on January 23.
Blessing Chibuike lives in Nicosia, capital of Cyprus, with OA whom they had brought from Nigeria to enrol as a student in Turkey.
The suspects, who were said to have withheld the passport of the 28-year-old, allegedly forced her to have sex with men in exchange for money.
A search warrant was obtained from the Nicosia District Court, but no one could be identified at the address.
However, on January 24, the police obtained a court order to take in the suspects for prosecution.
Two notebooks which were found at the address now form part of the evidence, but the suspects pleaded not guilty.
Consequently, Judge Nil Elodie Çeliker ordered their remand in police custody as investigation continues.
