UPDATE ON THE CASE OF ODUNAYO ENIOLA ISAAC: GRATITUDE AND CALL FOR FURTHER ACTION

Hopes Haven Foundation is pleased to announce that Odunayo Eniola Isaac has safely returned to Nigeria. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) for their invaluable assistance and collaboration in securing her return.

While Odunayo was able to recover a year’s salary through a settlement reached in Iraq, we must highlight the grave injustice of this arrangement. Odunayo endured months of forced labour, violence, and torture without receiving wages. The settlement falls short of addressing the full extent of the violations she suffered.

We also note that this arrangement violates Iraq’s labour laws, specifically Article 45(3), which mandates that wages must be paid at the end of the work period—weekly or monthly—with a maximum authorized delay of five days. Even though some may argue this law does not apply to domestic workers, we assert that in the absence of specific rules for domestic staff, this provision should protect against workplace injustices such as withholding wages.

Odunayo’s ordeal represents multiple violations of fundamental labour and human rights, including:

• Forced Labor
• Exposure to Violence and Unsafe Working Conditions
• Withholding of Wages
• Physical and Psychological Abuse

In light of these abuses, we urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take proactive measures to protect Nigerians seeking work in high-risk destinations. Specifically, we recommend the issuance of a Travel Advisory Directory covering countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and others where Nigeria lacks bilateral diplomatic agreements. The absence of such relations leaves Nigerian citizens vulnerable to exploitation and severely limits the government’s ability to protect their rights.

Odunayo’s case is a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by Nigerians abroad in the pursuit of a livelihood. While her safe return is a victory, it must also be a call to action to prevent future cases of abuse and exploitation.

We remain committed to advocating for justice and the protection of human rights for all Nigerians.

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