After 11 gruelling years of investigation and prosecution, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has secured a historic conviction against a couple who operated a covert baby factory in Ilutitun, Ondo State, in what officials describe as one of the agency’s most defining legal triumphs.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Lagos, the Lagos Zonal Commander, Mrs. Comfort Agboko, spoke on behalf of the Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, expressing appreciation to the judiciary, security agencies and the media for their steadfast support throughout the protracted trial.
Agboko said the conviction reinforced NAPTIP’s unwavering resolve to prosecute offenders diligently, regardless of their social standing or influence. “No matter the class or status, offenders will face the full weight of the law,” she declared.
The convicts, Ogundeji Happiness Ayodele and Prince Ogundeji Abiodun, described as high-profile socialites, had operated what was presented to the public as a care home but was later uncovered as a baby factory where underage pregnant girls were detained and their newborns sold.
On February 26, 2026, the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, sentenced the duo to 14 years imprisonment without option of fine. Trial Judge, F.A. Olubanjo, found them guilty on a 10-count charge bordering on unlawful detention and deprivation of personal liberty under Section 19(c) of the Trafficking in Persons Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003.
In a sweeping forfeiture order, the court directed that eight vehicles, two bungalows and N4 million recovered during investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government through NAPTIP. Additional properties are to be auctioned, with N1 million each awarded to three victims who testified in the case.
The case began in January 2014 following a referral by the Nigeria Immigration Service under an inter-agency collaboration framework. Subsequent investigations traced the operation to No. 10 Sarajo Street, Ilutitun, in Okitipupa Local Government Area.
Searches conducted at the premises uncovered hospital cards, luxury vehicles, cash concealed in a car trunk, residential buildings, a poultry farm and other assets suspected to be proceeds of crime. A court order obtained in May 2014 enabled authorities to seal and attach the properties pending the outcome of trial.
While celebrating the milestone, Agboko acknowledged the institutional hurdles confronting trafficking prosecutions. She lamented the absence of designated courts for such cases, noting that trials often recommence de novo when judges are redeployed, thereby prolonging justice and complicating witness availability.
Despite these setbacks, she insisted that trafficking cases were on the decline due to sustained sensitisation campaigns across schools, markets, churches and mosques. Increased public awareness, she added, has led to more voluntary reports and referrals to the agency.
Responding to allegations of misconduct within the agency, Agboko maintained that NAPTIP enforces strict internal discipline. Any officer found culpable of corruption or misconduct, she stressed, would be dismissed and prosecuted. She dismissed claims that victims are taken to private homes, explaining that the agency operates structured shelters staffed by caregivers, nurses and counsellors focused on rehabilitation.
She renewed calls for the establishment of special courts dedicated to human trafficking cases, describing the crime as a specialised offence involving “the lives and destinies of people” that demands expedited judicial attention.
In a message to Nigerians, the commander urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children and resist economic pressures that expose vulnerable youths to exploitation. “We must protect our children,” she said, warning against shifting parental duties onto society.
Describing the verdict as both punitive and restorative, NAPTIP said the judgment not only dismantled an illicit enterprise but also provided compensation to victims. The agency reaffirmed its determination to intensify enforcement efforts nationwide. “We will continue to smoke them out,” Agboko vowed, “no matter how long it takes.”