Notorious Human Trafficker "Christy Gold" Jailed for 12 Years in Delta State
In a significant victory against human trafficking, a Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, has handed down a 12-year prison sentence to Christiana Uadiale, also widely known as "Christy Gold." The conviction, which became public knowledge on June 29, 2025, marks a decisive blow against a notorious figure in the transnational human trafficking network.
Uadiale was found guilty on a six-count charge of human trafficking, brought against her by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The charges contravene Sections 15(b) and 13(4)c of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015.
While facing 12 years in prison, the court also offered Uadiale an alternative: a fine of N14 million. This sum is broken down into an N11 million fine, with an additional N1.5 million to be paid to each of the two identified victims for their rehabilitation and support.
"Christy Gold" has been a subject of intense focus by anti-human trafficking agencies. She was notably spotlighted in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)'s 2023 "Trafficking Inc." investigation, which identified her as a key ringleader in a criminal network that preyed on Nigerian women, forcing them into sex work primarily in Dubai.
According to court records and investigative reports, Uadiale and her associates targeted vulnerable Nigerian women desperate for legitimate work opportunities abroad. They would promise them jobs in Dubai, assisting them with passports and tourist visas for travel. However, upon arrival, these women would discover there were no jobs, their passports would be confiscated, and they would be coerced into sexual exploitation. Victims reported threats of violence, including being killed and their bodies dumped in the desert, if they refused to comply.
Uadiale had initially denied the sex trafficking allegations when first charged, claiming she merely sublet apartment space in Dubai to individuals and was unaware of their activities. She had also failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance in November 2021 after posting bail, leading to her conviction in absentia on March 21, 2025. She was eventually apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on New Year's Eve, 2024.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, had previously expressed the agency's resolve, stating earlier in 2025, "I am happy it was a sad end for human traffickers in the country in 2024 and we promise them a hell in 2025." This sentencing of Christiana Uadiale strongly aligns with that stated commitment.
This conviction sends a powerful message to human traffickers that Nigeria's judicial system is increasingly committed to bringing them to justice and protecting vulnerable citizens from exploitation.
I'm Aisha shehu
Talksocialtalka News
