After years of legal proceedings, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) successfully prosecuted a couple running a baby factory in Ondo State. The accused, Ogundeji Happiness Ayodele and Prince Ogundeji Abiodun, received a 14-year prison sentence without the option to pay a fine in the ruling delivered by Justice F.A. Olubanjo at the Federal High Court in Akure on February 26, as confirmed by NAPTIP on March 3, 2026.
According to reports from Linda Ikeji's Blog, the couple was arrested in 2014 after the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) tipped NAPTIP regarding their operation at 10 Sarajo Street, Okitipupa.
During a meticulous raid, officials discovered numerous underage pregnant girls who were held against their will to give birth, after which their children were sold to buyers. NAPTIP's investigation revealed that the facility was falsely registered as a care home.
Moreover, investigators seized several items during the operation, including multiple hospital antenatal cards, eight vehicles, an estimated 4 million Naira found in one vehicle's trunk, two bungalows, a poultry farm, and other valuable assets.
In a media briefing in Lagos, Mrs. Comfort Agboko, the Lagos Zone Commander for NAPTIP, indicated that the couple was charged under Section 19(c) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act of 2003. The court ordered the forfeiture of all seized items, including the vehicles and cash, to the Federal Government via NAPTIP, while also mandating that additional properties owned by the convicts be auctioned. Each of the three victims who provided testimony during the trial was awarded compensation of 1 million Naira.
Mrs. Agboko emphasized that this decision marks a significant victory in the battle against human trafficking, underscoring the dedicated efforts NAPTIP employed to bring the couple to justice.
To ensure the recovery of the assets, a sealing order was secured from the Federal High Court in Akure on May 12, 2014, allowing NAPTIP to manage the properties on the premises.
She declared the judgment as a strong deterrent to traffickers, illustrating that the law will ultimately prevail regardless of the time or status of those involved. The ruling not only imposes custodial sentences but also dismantles the illegal assets of the convicts while supplying restitution to affected victims.
Agboko credited the judiciary, the NIS, the Nigeria Police in Akure, and various partners for their roles throughout the lengthy trial period, as well as the media for their consistent reporting.
She reiterated NAPTIP's commitment to guarding Nigerians against exploitation and called for public collaboration in efforts to eliminate human trafficking. Agboko remarked on the resolve needed for prosecuting trafficking cases, noting the challenges posed by the absence of designated courts, which often lead to retrials as judges are frequently reassigned.
In her statements, she highlighted the difficulty of maintaining contact with witnesses and the intimidation faced by prosecutors. However, she expressed hope for future improvements, particularly the establishment of special courts for trafficking offenses which would streamline the judicial process. Currently, numerous cases are pending before federal courts in Lagos, with the establishment of state taskforces contributing to raising awareness for judges on the urgency of addressing such cases.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!