A Nigerian couple have been arrested and
charged to court for allegedly tricking two women into working as
prostitutes, using black magic to force them into complying.
The
couple 23-year-old Lizzy Idahosa and her husband 41-year-old Jackson
Omoruyi, were accused of trafficking their alleged victims aged 23 and
29 from Nigeria into Britain.
According to Daily Mail,
the victims were forced to eat snails and snakes in a black magic
ceremony before being sent to work in brothels and massage parlours.
A
jury at the Cardiff Crown Court heard the women were in fear of
'illness, madness, infertility or death' if they went against the
African witchcraft by refusing to have sex with strangers for money.
And all the money they made from prostitution, which came to more than £40,000, was pocketed by Idahosa and Omoruyi.
The prosecutor said: 'The couple were involved in the exploitation of two women brought into the UK from Nigeria to work as prostitutes.
'They
were bound to this by something called a juju ritual. It was a
ceremonial ritual used to full effect to terrify both women into doing
what was demanded of them.
'It
was used to ensure compliance, secrecy, and they believed if they broke
the bond dire consequences would follow: illness, madness, infertility
or death.
'They genuinely believed the powers would work.'
Reports
say Idahosa allegedly arranged for both women to travel from Nigeria -
forcing them to go through juju ceremonies before they left.
The woman, who got through border controls using fake documents, allegedly paid £45,550 to Idahosa and her husband Omoruyi.
The prosecutor added: 'She
was told it could be arranged for her to be brought to London but
before this could happen she had to attend a juju ceremony.
'Her hair was shaved, her body was marked and her clothes were taken. She had to eat a snail and an egg as well as some dust.
'She made oaths and promises and thought she would die or go mad if she broke the oaths she had made.'
The second woman was allegedly told she was going to find work in a shop with Idahosa in London.
She
was allowed into the UK after telling immigration officials she was a
lesbian and would be sacrificed if she didn't leave Nigeria.
But
the court heard that when she arrived in Britain, she was also made to
work in brothels and massage parlours up and down the country.
She claims she felt she had 'no choice' because she had taken part in a juju ceremony.
The prosecutor said: 'She
was taken to see the juju man, she was given dirty water and made to
eat a snake. Her body was marked, her pubic hair and brow hair was cut.
'She was told not to say anything - she believed the ritual was bonding upon her.'
The
women were found following an immigration raid on a massage parlour in
Cardiff, while Idahosa and Omoruyi were later arrested at their home in
Brockley, South London.
Idahosa denies denies
seven charges including trafficking for prostitution and moving criminal
property, while Jackson denies three charges charges of inciting the
women to become prostitutes and transferring criminal property.
Heavily
pregnant Idahosa, who has lived off benefits since 2011, claims she was
also trafficked to the UK following a juju ritual.
The trial continues.
-culled from dailymail..UK
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