Nigerian Couple Arrested For Keeping A Slave In The UK

This is the familiar classic Nigerian story: Oga and Madam brought a poor relative from the village whose father had died and whose mother couldn’t care for seven other kids, and he becomes known simply as ‘houseboy.’

Houseboy was taken to the city – Lagos – to live with the Oga and Madam; clean their home, wash the car, cook, raise the children, sleep on the floor, never allowed to join the family in the sitting room and he was never allowed to go to school. He was not paid either.


When opportunity came for the Oga and Madam to take their family abroad – Israel first, London next – they couldn’t afford not to bring houseboy along because abroad they would have to employ a proper house keeper. So, they made houseboy a passport, changed his surname to theirs and he is owned by them until when they decide let him go.

But the Houseboy in this story – Ofonime Sunday Inuk – was held for 24 years by his owners – Emmanuel Edet who is a Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, and his wife, Antan Edet, a senior nurse. They held his passport and he was never allowed to go to school or earn a living; he had no life; he was the modern day slave living in a little room in their £450,000 mansion.

In 2013, Ofonime, escaped from their home. He filed a report with the social services and the police but they wouldn’t help him; his case was waved away. But he contacted a charity organisation which now tipped off Scotland Yard.

The Edets were arrested and charged to court for slavery and assisting unlawful immigration.

“Over a period in excess of 20 years they have deprived him of his identity,” Roger Smart, the prosecutor said. “His rights to education and freedom of movement and the money he should have received. He has no means of returning to Nigeria. He was entirely dependent on them.”

The Edets pleaded “not guilty” of maltreating Ofonime but they never denied they held him that long.

The case is still in court.

Source: Daily mail