Uadiale Christiana Jacob, widely known as Christy Gold, a convicted leader of an international human trafficking syndicate, was apprehended by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on December 31, 2024.
The arrest occurred as the suspect returned from Dubai to celebrate the New Year.
Christy Gold had been on the wanted list of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for over five years. She is accused of trafficking underage Nigerian girls to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for forced prostitution.
Her initial arrest took place in October 2020 in Benin City, Edo State, following allegations of operating a trafficking ring. In November 2020, she was charged at the Federal High Court in Asaba but absconded while on bail, leading to a bench warrant for her arrest in 2021. In March 2024, Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court convicted her in absentia, with sentencing postponed until her rearrest.
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NAPTIP, working alongside the Ministry of Justice, INTERPOL Nigeria, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and UAE authorities, launched a coordinated effort to track Uadiale. Following a 2023 request to place her on a watchlist, NIS officers detained her upon her return to Nigeria.
NAPTIP spokesperson Vincent Adekoye revealed that several of Uadiale’s accomplices, including Michael Nduka, Osas Wiseman, Vivian, and an individual identified as Prophet John, remain at large. These individuals allegedly played critical roles in recruiting and trafficking victims.
The arrest highlights Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking and prosecuting those who exploit vulnerable individuals. Authorities have reiterated their resolve to bring all collaborators to justice.
Uadiale is currently in custody and is expected to face sentencing at the Federal High Court in Asaba in the coming days.
