A fetish Nigerian couple, Lizzy Idahosa, 23, and her husband,
Jackson Omoruyi, 41, has been grossly accused of tricking two women into
working as prostitutes by using African black magic to frighten them to
comply to all their duties as prostitutes.
The young women were
allegedly trafficked from Nigeria into Britain by the couple who
terrified them afterwards with ‘juju magic’ or African witchcraft.
Cardiff
Crown Court heard that the alleged victims, aged 23 and 29, were forced
to eat snails and snakes as part of a black magic ceremony before being
sent to work in brothels and massage parlours.
A jury 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. The Court was told that all the money they made
from prostitution, which came to more than £40,000, was pocketed by
Idahosa and Omoruyi.
Prosecutor, Caroline Rees 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."
According
to the story on Mail Online, Idahosa allegedly arranged for both women
to travel 4,500 miles from the West African country – forcing them to go
through juju ceremonies before they left.
The court heard that
one of the women believed she was coming to the UK to find her father,
but ended up trapped in ‘thoroughly miserable life’ having sex with up
to eight men a day at brothels including the Ambassador massage parlour
in Cardiff.
The woman, who got through border controls, using fake documents, allegedly paid £45,550 to Idahosa and her husband Omoruyi.
Miss
Rees 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.
Miss
Rees 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
eyebrow hair was cut.
‘She was told not to say anything – she believed the ritual was bonding upon her.’
The
women were discovered following an immigration raid on a massage
parlour in Cardiff. Idahosa and Omoruyi were later arrested at their
home in Brockley, South London.
Idahosa denied seven charges
including trafficking for prostitution and moving criminal property,
while Omoruyi denied three 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 case was thereby adjourned for further hearing.
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