Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa

A Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State, has sentenced a couple to 14 years in prison for running an illegal “baby factory” after an 11-year legal battle that highlighted gaps in anti-trafficking enforcement and drew national scrutiny on human trafficking practices in Nigeria. The couple, Prince Ogundeji Abiodun and his wife, Happiness Ayodele Ogundeji, were convicted on multiple counts related to human trafficking, unlawful detention and deprivation of liberty, bringing a protracted case to an eventual resolution that authorities have described as a significant legal victory.

The case originated in early 2014 when the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) uncovered a suspected baby factory at the couple’s residence on No. 10 Sarajo Street in Ilu-Titun, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State and referred the matter to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). 

According to NAPTIP, the facility was allegedly established under the pretext of a legitimate care home but in reality housed underage pregnant girls who were detained until delivery. Investigators said the girls were kept against their will, with the babies subsequently sold to individuals or couples seeking children, turning the births into a crude commercial enterprise at the expense of human rights and dignity. 

During the raid and follow-up investigation, authorities recovered multiple items that would later form part of the court exhibits, including hospital antenatal cards, eight cars with keys, two residential bungalows, ₦4 million in cash stored in one vehicle’s trunk, a poultry farm and other assets tied to the defendants. 

In May 2014, NAPTIP obtained a Federal High Court order to seal and seize the properties found on site as part of efforts to preserve evidence and remove proceeds of crime.

Over the ensuing decade, the prosecution built its case under Section 19(c) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003, arguing that the couple’s actions constituted trafficking in persons by detaining victims and exploiting them for profit. The defense consistently contended that the institution was a humanitarian care home providing shelter and support to expectant mothers without malicious intent, and that subsequent adoptions were voluntary. The court ultimately rejected this defense, citing overwhelming evidence of coercion and commercial exploitation. 

In sentencing the couple on February 26, 2026, Justice F. A. Olubanjo ruled that their conduct warranted substantial custodial punishment. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the eight cars, two bungalows and the ₦4 million to the Federal Government of Nigeria through NAPTIP as proceeds of crime. In a measure aimed at restitution, the judge directed that ₦1 million be paid to each of the three victims who testified during the trial to help address some of the harm they suffered. 

At a press briefing in Lagos following the verdict, Ladies Comfort Agboko, the Lagos Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, called the judgment historic and a landmark victory in the fight against human trafficking. She emphasized that the slow pace of prosecution reflected systemic challenges but that persistence had ultimately resulted in accountability for the offenders. 

The prolonged duration of the case underscores broader challenges within Nigeria’s justice system, especially involving complex human trafficking prosecutions that require meticulous evidence gathering, witness protection and inter-agency cooperation. Legal experts have noted that delays in securing convictions in such cases can be attributed to procedural backlogs, the difficulty of sustaining witness testimony over many years and efforts by defense teams to prolong proceedings. 

The Ondo State conviction has drawn attention not only within legal circles but also among human rights advocates and community groups who have long campaigned against baby factories and similar forms of exploitation. These illegal facilities — sometimes disguised as maternity homes, adoption agencies, or shelters — have periodically emerged across Nigeria, exploiting the socioeconomic vulnerabilities of young women by promising care, financial support or new opportunities, only to restrict their freedom and commercialize their pregnancies.

The conviction also comes against a backdrop of other baby factory and trafficking cases in Nigeria. For example, in October 2025, officers of the Ondo State Police Command discovered a separate suspected baby factory in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area, where five pregnant girls and an infant were rescued and one woman, identified as Ada Clement, was arrested. Preliminary investigations in that case suggested that babies were sold for thousands of naira depending on gender, and authorities moved to investigate a broader syndicate.

These incidents have intensified calls from civil society and child protection advocates for stronger enforcement, enhanced coordination among security agencies, and expanded support frameworks for vulnerable girls and women. Advocacy groups argue that without robust social interventions — including economic empowerment, access to education and reproductive health services — traffickers will continue to exploit systemic vulnerabilities and demand for children through informal channels. 

The Federal Government and NAPTIP have reiterated commitments to intensified surveillance of unregistered maternity homes and closer community engagement to identify early warning signs of exploitation. NAPTIP officials have also urged the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activities that could indicate trafficking operations. 

For the victims who endured years of captivity and deception, the sentences carry mixed implications. Official statements suggest that some have been placed into protective custody or reunited with verified relatives, though detailed updates on their current circumstances are withheld for privacy and safety reasons. Advocacy organizations continue to stress the need for comprehensive rehabilitation services, including psychosocial support and reintegration programs to address long-term trauma.

With the conviction of the Ogundeji couple, Nigeria has taken a definitive legal step against one of the most egregious forms of human trafficking encountered domestically. Yet authorities concede that dismantling the broader trafficking ecosystem requires sustained efforts beyond individual prosecutions, encompassing preventive measures, legal reform and community empowerment to disrupt the conditions that facilitate such abuses.

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