Justice Lekan Olatawura of the [Ekiti State High Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ekiti_State) sentenced 37‑year‑old Deborah Ayeni, a married woman, to 14 years’ imprisonment in absentia on Thursday, after she failed to appear in court and was declared a fugitive for allegedly stealing a newborn in Ado‑Ekiti.
The trial, which began earlier this month, saw the prosecution call four witnesses. Ayeni’s sureties were unable to produce her, prompting the judge to issue the harsh sentence.
According to the prosecution, Ayeni claimed she had miscarried in May 2025 and, to preserve her marriage, deceived her husband abroad by pretending she was about to give birth. She allegedly invited him back to Nigeria, wrapped clothing around her abdomen to simulate a pregnancy, and later visited a hospital in the Okeyinmi area of Ado‑Ekiti.
What did the prosecution allege about the theft?
The prosecutors asserted that Ayeni entered the Okeyinmi hospital, took the infant from the complainants, and handed the child to a midwife while telling her husband she had buried the placenta. The midwife noticed irregularities, reported the matter to police, and the woman was subsequently arrested.
Ayeni was initially released on bail of N2 million together with two sureties of equal amount, her father Babatope Ayeni and another individual. She later failed to appear for subsequent hearings, once claiming she had been abducted, leading the court to cancel her bail.
What actions did the court take after revoking bail?
Following the bail cancellation, Justice Olatawura ordered the court registrar to send the judgment and a fugitive notice to the [Controller General of Customs](https://customs.gov.ng), the [Nigeria Police Force](https://www.npf.gov.ng), and the media, demanding Ayeni’s immediate arrest. The sentence will take effect as soon as she is taken into custody.
What penalty did the sureties face?
In addition, the judge imposed a six‑month jail term on each of the two sureties, including Ayeni’s father, under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Ekiti State, 2014 (as amended), for failing to produce the accused and for not paying the required recognizance fees.