A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has sentenced a 29-year-old woman, Eniola Boluwatife Adedeji, to 45 years imprisonment for trafficking a minor to the Republic of Benin for sexual exploitation.
The conviction was secured by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ogun State Command.
The Ogun State Commander of NAPTIP, Mrs Bose Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
According to Jimoh, Adedeji was arraigned before the court on a 10-count charge bordering on human trafficking and related offences.
She said the court found the defendant guilty on counts one to eight and count 10, but discharged and acquitted her on count nine.
“On June 5, 2026, NAPTIP, Ogun State Command, secured the successful prosecution and conviction of one Eniola Boluwatife Adedeji, female, 29 years old, before the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Judicial Division, in connection with the trafficking of one minor for sexual exploitation in Cotonou, Republic of Benin,” Jimoh said.
She explained that the convict was arrested on Aug. 18, 2024, by officers of the Nigeria Police Force at Adigbe, Abeokuta, and subsequently handed over for prosecution.
According to her, Adedeji was arraigned before Justice A.J. Adeyemi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, on Sept. 24, 2024.
She said trial commenced on March 12, 2025, and judgment was delivered on June 5, 2026.
Jimoh stated that the offences were contrary to various provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
The court sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment on each of the nine counts on which she was convicted, bringing the cumulative sentence to 45 years.
However, the court ordered that all the prison terms should run concurrently.
The NAPTIP commander described the judgment as a significant milestone in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation.
She reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons, particularly children, and ensuring that perpetrators of trafficking offences are brought to justice.
Jimoh also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspected cases of human trafficking and exploitation to relevant authorities.
