Court jails Ondo baby factory couple 14 years after 11-year trial

…Convicts forfeit houses and cars; three victims get N1m each.

By Evelyn Usman

After an 11-year legal battle, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has secured the conviction of a high-profile couple who operated a baby factory in Ilu-Titun, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The convicts, Prince Ogundeji Abiodun and Mrs Ayodele Ogundeji, were on Thursday, February 26, 2026, sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine by the Federal High Court sitting in Akure.

The trial judge, F. A. Olubanjo, found them guilty on a 10-count charge bordering on detaining victims against their will and deprivation of personal liberty, contrary to Section 19(c) of the TIPPLEA 2003.

In addition, the court ordered that eight cars and two bungalows traced to the convicts as proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria through NAPTIP.

In the same vein, the sum of N4 million, which was part of the exhibits recovered during investigation by NAPTIP, was also forfeited to the Federal Government through the agency, while three victims who testified in the case are to get N1 million each.

Addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday on the conviction, the Lagos Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mrs Comfort Agboko, described the judgement as historic and a landmark victory in the fight against human trafficking.

Describing the convicts as high-profile socialites, Agboko explained: “The case was referred to NAPTIP by the Nigerian Immigration Service in January 2014 in accordance with existing inter-agency collaboration between the two agencies of government.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the two convicts operated a baby factory at their country home at No. 10 Sarajo Street, Ilutitun, in the Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, where underage pregnant girls were brought in and detained against their will, purposely awaiting delivery of their babies to be sold to customers.

“In the course of the investigation, a search was conducted in the house, and numerous items were uncovered, including hospital cards, eight cars with their keys, two bungalows, ₦4 million cash in the trunk of one of the cars, a poultry farm, various domestic animals, among others. A court order was obtained on May 12, 2014, from the Federal High Court, Akure, to seal, attach and seize the properties of the defendants found within the premises.

“NAPTIP Lagos Command is indeed delighted to announce that after over 11 years of trial, justice has finally been secured for the victims. This is a landmark conviction that will surely serve as a deterrent to criminal elements in the country and also a warning to perpetrators of human trafficking that no matter how long it takes, they will one day face the full wrath of the law.”

She added that, “It is a double-barrelled judgement which dealt a heavy and devastating blow to the convicts by stripping them of their ill-gotten proceeds of crime and, at the same time, providing some measure of restitution for the victims to assuage their pain, loss and exploitation.

“Other properties of the convicts are to be auctioned or sold, out of which the sum of one million naira should be given to each of the three victims who testified in the case.”

Agboko commended the judiciary, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police, the Ondo State Command, and other partners for their support throughout the trial.

Reaffirming NAPTIP’s commitment to protecting Nigerians from exploitation, Agboko declared, “We shall continue to smoke them out, no matter their status, big or small,” urging members of the public to join hands with the agency in the ongoing fight to stamp out human trafficking in the country.

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