A Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has convicted and sentenced a 29-year-old woman, Eniola Boluwatife Adedeji, to 45 years in prison for trafficking a minor to the Republic of Benin for sexual exploitation.
The conviction followed a prosecution by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which secured the judgement on June 5, 2026, before the Federal High Court, Abeokuta Judicial Division.
According to a statement issued by the Commander of NAPTIP’s Ogun State Command, Bose Jimoh, Adedeji was arraigned on a 10-count charge related to human trafficking offences.
The agency said the defendant was found guilty on counts one to eight and count 10, while she was discharged and acquitted on count nine.
“On the 5th of June, 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 stated.
She explained that Adedeji was arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force on August 18, 2024, at Adigbe in Abeokuta and was subsequently arraigned before Justice A. J. Adeyemi of the Federal High Court on September 24, 2024.
The trial commenced on March 12, 2025, and concluded with the court delivering its judgement on June 5, 2026.
NAPTIP said the offences contravened several provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
Although the court imposed five years’ imprisonment on each of the nine counts for which she was convicted, all the sentences are to run concurrently.
Meanwhile, the agency also highlighted another recent conviction involving a 27-year-old man, Chukwuemeka Iheamama, who was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for trafficking two minors for exploitation.
The victims were identified as Bright Edim, 15, and Mary Ekong, 15.
According to NAPTIP, Iheamama was prosecuted before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta on a three-count charge of child trafficking.
The court sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of N250,000 on the first count, five years’ imprisonment and a N500,000 fine on the second count, and another five years’ imprisonment on the third count. The sentences are also to run concurrently.
The convictions underscore ongoing efforts by NAPTIP and other law enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking and protect vulnerable children from exploitation.
