Former Kaduna State senator, Shehu Sani, has cautioned wealthy Nigerians, especially women, against traveling overseas with domestic staff, warning that they risk imprisonment.
In a Sunday post on his social media account, Sani highlighted a growing trend where wealthy Nigerians bring housemaids or nannies to countries like the UK, UAE, or the US.
His warning follows the recent conviction of Ugandan UN judge Lydia Mugambe, sentenced to six years and four months in a UK prison for forcing a woman into domestic servitude.
Mugambe, 50, was pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when authorities discovered she had brought a young Ugandan woman to work unpaid as a maid and nanny.
Despite being a Ugandan High Court judge, Mugambe was found guilty of modern-day slavery offenses in March.
During sentencing, Judge David Foxton condemned Mugambe for showing “absolutely no remorse” and attempting to shift blame onto the victim.
Sani stressed that Nigerians frequently travel abroad with domestic workers, often unaware of the severe legal consequences.
In his characteristically direct style, the civil rights activist stated: “Many rich families, especially women traveling to Europe,Dubai or US are fond of going along with their housemaid or nannies.The day your housemaid or nanny bolt out of your house and report you to the police that you are paying her below the minimum wage of that particular country,just know that you are likely going to end up in Jail,and your housemaid or nanny can be given an asylum.
“Your offence will be categorized as domestic slavery or keeping a domestic slave. The case of the Ugandan Judge in the Uk,Lydia Mugambe should be a lesson for all”
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