Nigerian Couple Convicted of Forced Labor, Faces 20 Years in US Prison

A Nigerian couple residing in the United States has been found guilty of forced labor by a federal jury in New Jersey, paving the way for a 20-year prison sentence.

Isiaka Bolarinwa, aged 67, and Bolaji Bolarinwa, aged 50, both US citizens, were convicted of orchestrating a coercive scheme compelling two victims to undertake domestic labor and childcare within their household.

During the trial concluding on April 24, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke asserted that the couple enticed the victims to the US with promises of a better life and education, only to subject them to extensive physical and psychological abuse.

Clarke stated, “The defendants confiscated the victims’ passports, threatened them, degraded them, physically abused them, and kept them under constant surveillance, all to coerce the victims’ labor and ruthlessly exploit them for the defendants’ own profit.”

The case, supported by evidence including testimony from the victims, detailed occurrences spanning from December 2015 to October 2016.

The court heard how Bolaji Bolarinwa coerced Victim 1, who arrived in the US in December 2015, through threats, isolation, and surveillance to work tirelessly for nearly a year. Isiaka Bolarinwa was implicated in benefiting directly from Victim 1’s labor.

Victim 2, recruited to the US on a student visa, faced similar abuse with Bolaji resorting more frequently to physical violence. Isiaka was also reported to have physically abused Victim 2 and profited from her labor.

The abuse persisted until October 2016 when Victim 1, finding courage, reported the ordeal to a college professor, leading to an FBI investigation.

Both defendants could face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each forced labor count, in addition to a maximum of 10 years for the alien harboring count. Mandatory restitution to the victims and substantial fines are also on the cards.

A sentencing hearing is slated for a later date.