Justice finally caught up with a high-profile couple who operated a clandestine baby factory in Ilutitun, Ondo State, as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) secured a historic conviction after 11 years of painstaking prosecution.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, the Lagos Zonal Commander of the agency, Mrs. Comfort Agboko, speaking on behalf of the Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, described the judgment as a watershed in Nigeria’s anti-human trafficking fight and a stern warning that no offender, regardless of status, is beyond the reach of the law.
The convicts, Ogundeji Happiness Ayodele and Prince Ogundeji Abiodun, both described as prominent socialites, were sentenced on February 26, 2026, to 14 years imprisonment without option of fine by the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State.
Trial Judge, F.A. Olubanjo, convicted the couple on a 10-count charge bordering on unlawful detention and deprivation of personal liberty, offences punishable under Section 19(c) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003.
Beyond the prison terms, the court delivered what Agboko termed a “double-barrel judgment.” Eight vehicles, two bungalows, and N4 million recovered during investigation were forfeited to the Federal Government through NAPTIP. Other assets are to be auctioned, with N1 million each awarded to three victims who testified during the trial.
The case, which began in January 2014 following a referral by the Nigeria Immigration Service, exposed a grim operation at No. 10 Sarajo Street, Ilutitun, where underage pregnant girls were detained against their will until delivery, after which their babies were sold to the highest bidders.
Investigations led to the recovery of hospital cards, luxury vehicles, cash stashed in a car trunk, residential properties, and other assets suspected to be proceeds of crime. A court order secured in May 2014 enabled authorities to seal and attach the properties pending the conclusion of trial.
Agboko, however, admitted that prosecuting trafficking cases in Nigeria remains arduous. With no designated courts for such offences, cases often restart afresh when judges are transferred, prolonging trauma for victims and stretching prosecutorial resources. “It takes determination,” she said, noting that some prosecutors attend court up to 20 consecutive times on a single case.
She reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption within its ranks. According to her, any officer found complicit would not only be dismissed but prosecuted. She also dismissed allegations of misconduct in victim handling, insisting that NAPTIP operates shelters staffed with caregivers, nurses and counsellors, and forbids any officer from taking victims into private homes.
While acknowledging progress in public awareness, Agboko called for the establishment of special courts dedicated to human trafficking cases, arguing that the specialised nature of such crimes demands swift and focused adjudication. She urged parents to take responsibility for their children and warned against pushing young people into exploitation under economic pressure.
Declaring the conviction a deterrent to criminal networks nationwide, NAPTIP pledged to intensify its enforcement and sensitisation campaigns. “No matter how long it takes,” Agboko stressed, “perpetrators will face the full wrath of the law.”
