Court jails Ogun woman 45 years for child trafficking

Court Jails Ogun Woman for 45 Years Over Child Trafficking

A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta has sentenced 29-year-old Eniola Adedeji to 45 years’ imprisonment for trafficking a minor (name withheld) for sexual exploitation in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.

Adedeji, who faced a 10-count charge relating to various human trafficking offences, was found guilty on nine counts. She received a five-year prison term for each count, with the sentences ordered to run concurrently.

The Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Ogun State Command, Bose Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement sent to our correspondent on Monday.

“The defendant was arrested on 18th August 2024 by officers of the Nigeria Police Force at Adigbe, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and arraigned before Hon. Justice A. J. Adeyemi of Court 2, Federal High Court, Abeokuta, on 24th September 2024,” Jimoh said.

“Trial commenced on 12th March 2025, and judgment was delivered on 5th June 2026, wherein the Honourable Court convicted the defendant on counts 1 to 8 and count 10, but discharged and acquitted her on count 9.

“The defendant was found guilty of offences contrary to several provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition, Enforcement and Administration) Act, 2015, with all sentences to run concurrently.”

In a related case, 27-year-old Chukwuemeka Iheamama was recently sentenced to 12 years in prison for trafficking two minors, Bright Edim and Mary Ekong, both aged 15.

Iheamama faced a three-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta. He was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and a N250,000 fine for count one, five years’ imprisonment and a N500,000 fine for count two, and five years’ imprisonment for count three. All sentences are to run concurrently.