New York, February 27, 2008 --- Last week, the media were awash with news report of Nigerian former football international Godwin Okpara sentenced for about 10 to 13 years in a French jail for the rape, torture and enslavement of his ‘adopted daughter’.

His wife Linda Okpara was sentenced to about 15 years, while his mother-in-law or aunt received about 18 months to five-year sentence for failing to come to the aid of a person in danger. The family had denied all the charges against them.

The court heard that the abuse was carried out at the family home in Chatou, west of Paris.

The ‘adopted daughter’ named Tina had arrived in France as a young girl in 2000 at about age of 10 to 13, according to some news sources.

She said she was forced to do all household chores, and was regularly raped by her adopted father under threat of being beaten. Linda Okpara allegedly shaved her head, stubbed a cigarette out on her cheek, and forced her to perform cruel sexual acts, according to the accusations.

Godwin Okpara, 35, admitted to having sex with the ‘adopted daughter’, then 13, on one occasion in 2005. But he said it was at her instigation, therefore, the sex had been consensual.

The ‘daughter’ testified in court that it was after discovering the pair together having sex that Linda Okpara, 42, began mistreating her - torturing her and subjecting her to cruel sexual acts.

'Inhumane conditions'

The ‘daughter’ also told the court she was not allowed to go to school and was forced to carry out menial housework. Nights were spent sleeping on the basement floor on a damp mattress, she said.

Prosecutors said the couple colluded with an aunt or mother-in-law of Linda Okpara to keep the daughter in inhumane living conditions. News report stated the aunt/mother-in-law was sentenced to between 18 months to 5 years in prison for failing to prevent the crimes being carried out.

Jurors had deliberated for two hours before reaching the verdict.

Court room display of cruelty

After the verdict, Okpara's wife, Linda, sarcastically turned on their ‘daughter’, Tina, saying: "Thanks. Thanks a lot, Tina. Good luck in France."

She then danced in the accused's box and made incomprehensible remarks toward her ‘daughter’, who stared at the ground.

Okpara played for French sides Strasbourg and Paris St Germain between 1999 and 2001.

"Godwin Okpara is not the heartless monster that has been described," said Joseph Cohen Sabban. Defense lawyers said they were likely to appeal.

Reactions from Nigerian international community

Stella Azie (New York-based attorney)

I am forwarding the article concerning the imprisonment of a star athlete and by all accounts a hero in the Nigerian community. It is a sad day for Nigeria in particular. Very sad story.

However, it should be a reason for us to search deep into our culture and our ways. These things are coming up to the surface more and more often and I am beginning to think that we have a serious problem that should be addressed in our community. It is more rampant than would like to believe. We have to come out of denial and face the facts. This so called adopted child is more than likely, the house maid/help of this couple.
 
 Nigerians must speak out and speak up about how we threat some classes of Nigerians. Beginning from our Presidents to our servants. Our past Nigerian president from all accounts was in our faces, insulting journalists, vice president and other members of the community and dared anyone to say or do anything. I have never seen anything so shameful in all my stay in America.

Every one of our people are humans with same wishes and aspirations. We all have the same goals and equal rights under our constitutions and we are all in pursuit of our happiness. Why should some people think that they are more entitled to happiness than others.

The class distinctions in our society allows for maltreatment/mistreatment of people and injustice enshrined everywhere in our system. It seems that the law in Nigeria is meant for the poor. The rich disobey and disregard the law with impunity and there are absolutely no consequences.

It is all about money. No one wants to be poor because, poverty means that you will be held accountable for any crimes you commit or even held liable for crimes you did not commit.
 
 How can a thirteen year old girl instigate a grown man to have sex with her. We have a culture where we blame the victim. If a young girl is raped, it is because of her dressing or something she did to bring it upon herself. We have most school girls prostituting in Nigeria just to put themselves through school. After school, they have no job and they continue to prostitute to keep alive.

People of different creeds take power and refuse to address these issues. All they do is enrich themselves, their friends and families without any shame or conscience. It is the worst kind of ignorance.

Very pathetic and sad. It is particularly sad because, we have the natural resources that is more than enough to sustain the entire country and its citizens. We have the manpower. We are blessed by the Almighty in so many ways than we care to appreciate. However, our leadership from our immediate homes to the offices have made it impossible for our dreams as a people to be achieved.

My prayer is that one day, God will give us the right leadership to turn things around for the less fortunate Nigerians who are being forced to make the tough decision of whether to live without honor or integrity or die with honor and integrity.

One of the good things about democracy is free speech. Nigerians should speak up about the treatment of less fortunate people in its society. The blind, the lame, the weak, the sick, the unemployed, the orphan, the mentally afflicted etc. Speak up Nigeria. If we fail to speak, we are helping to perpetuate these ills in our society. We cannot afford to remain silent or passive.
 
 Therefore, I salute Nigerian organizations like Africans in America, Inc. and other such organization for their effort in shinning light on this problem of abuse of our youths and applaud their effort in bringing justice to some Nigerians, one Nigerian victim at a time. Keep up the good work. 
 
 Regards,
 
Stella Azie, Esq.

Bonaventure Ezekwenna (Executive Director, Africans In America, Inc.)

There is no doubt in my mind that this is a case of human trafficking, if it is thoroughly clinically investigated.

We handled a very similar case before right here in New York in 1999/2000. The fake adoption has always been a ploy to get entry visa and lure human trafficking victims into the final destinations, usually industrialized, developed western countries.

This case presents a serious direct challenge to the Nigerian police and all other agencies charged with addressing this sort of problem, to fish out all the officials responsible for issuing the so-called ‘adoption’ papers. The family of the victim must be protected from direct and indirect attacks and harm, as well.

I will like to see the reaction of Nigeria government officials, especially, the Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Police Affairs, and others, including the Nigeria’s anti-trafficking-in-persons agency; National Agency for Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other related Matters (NAPTIP), etc.

Recently we requested a meeting with Nigeria government to discourse our proposed project in Nigeria and ways to raise awareness on the growing problem of human trafficking. That request was mishandled and mismanaged. The officials gave us ultimatum; to either meet them at their office in Abuja at our own expense, or else. Our request to hold the meeting at either Nigeria missions in New York or Washington D.C. was not entertained, clearly showing Nigeria lackluster response to human trafficking problem ravaging the poor citizenry. We got more ego-tripping rather than serious sensible response and discourse.

It is a shame. This case involving this Nigeria star athlete, a hero in the society, no doubt presents ample opportunity for public awareness bonanza, and I hope the Nigeria government policy-makers seize this opportunity and utilize it to the maximum public benefit.

We have hope and confidence that the current Nigerian President Umaru Yar’Adua means well for the nation, but shall we say the same about the individuals managing various government ministries and agencies?