Court jails Ogun woman 45 years for child trafficking

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

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Adedeji, who was arraigned on a 10-count charge bordering on various human trafficking offences, was, however, found guilty on nine of the charges and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for each count charge, with the jail terms to run concurrently.

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

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Jimoh stated, “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.

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

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

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

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Recall that a 27-year-old man, Chukwuemeka Iheamama, was recently sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for trafficking two minors for exploitation.

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The victims were identified as Bright Edim, 15, and Mary Ekong, 15.

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According to NAPTIP, Iheamama was tried before the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on a three-count charge bordering on child trafficking.

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He was subsequently 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 another five years for count three, with the sentences to run concurrently.

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