By Adesakin Adefemi
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 for sexual exploitation in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
The court convicted Adedeji on nine out of the 10-count charge brought against her by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP. Each count attracted a five-year jail term, with all sentences ordered to run concurrently.
NAPTIP Commander in Ogun State, Bose Jimoh, disclosed the development in a statement made available to journalists on Monday. She said the conviction was secured before Hon. Justice A. J. Adeyemi of Court 2, Federal High Court, Abeokuta.
According to Jimoh, the defendant was arrested on August 18, 2024, by officers of the Nigeria Police Force at Adigbe, Abeokuta. She was later arraigned before the court on September 24, 2024, after investigations linked her to the trafficking of a minor across the border.
Trial in the case commenced on March 12, 2025, and lasted several months before judgement was delivered on June 5, 2026. The court found the defendant guilty on counts 1 to 8 and count 10, but discharged and acquitted her on count 9.
The offences for which Adedeji was convicted are contrary to various provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015. The Act prescribes stiff penalties for anyone found guilty of recruiting, transporting, or exploiting persons for sexual or labour purposes.
NAPTIP said the victim, whose identity was withheld for protection, was trafficked to Cotonou in the Republic of Benin for sexual exploitation. The agency described the conviction as a strong warning to human traffickers operating within and outside Nigeria.
The commander commended the judiciary for its commitment to justice and praised the diligence of prosecutors and investigators who worked on the case. She urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities involving minors to law enforcement agencies.
The court’s decision adds to recent convictions secured by NAPTIP in Ogun State, including the 12-year sentence handed to 27-year-old Chukwuemeka Iheamama for trafficking two minors. The agency reiterated its resolve to prosecute all offenders and protect vulnerable Nigerians from modern-day slavery.
