Court sends Ogun woman to prison for 45 years over child trafficking

A Federal High Court in Abeokuta has sentenced a 29-year-old woman, Eniola Adedeji, to 45 years in prison for trafficking a minor for sexual exploitation in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Adedeji faced 10 charges related to different human trafficking crimes. She was found guilty on nine of those charges. The court sentenced her to five years in prison for each of the guilty counts. All the prison terms will run at the same time.

Bose Jimoh, the Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Ogun State, shared this information in a statement on Monday.

Jimoh said, "On the 5th of June, 2026, NAPTIP, Ogun State Command, successfully prosecuted and convicted Eniola Boluwatife Adedeji, a 29-year-old woman, at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta. This was in relation to the trafficking of a minor for sexual exploitation in Cotonou, Republic of Benin."

"The defendant was arrested on 18th August 2024 by officers from the Nigeria Police Force at Adigbe in Abeokuta, Ogun State. She was later brought before Hon. Justice A. J. Adeyemi at the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, on 24th September 2024."

"The trial began on 12th March 2025, and the judgement was given on 5th June 2026. The court found her guilty on counts 1 to 8 and count 10, but she was discharged and acquitted on count 9."

"The defendant was convicted of various offences under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015. All sentences are to run concurrently."