A LAGOS Chief Magistrate’ Court yesterday adjourned the alleged human trafficking case involving a 45-year-old woman, Martina Adebayo, to October 29, 2026, for mention.
The defendant was earlier granted bail on June 9,2026, by Magistrate Lateef Owolabi in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties, each of whom must provide evidence of ownership landed property. The matter had initially been adjourned to July 16, 2026, for trial.

Adebayo was arrested on June 1,2026, and transferred to the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command for investigation into the alleged offences.
According to police investigations, the defendant’s daughter, Tosin Adebayo, also known as Tosin Moses and currently at large, allegedly lured a 16-year-old girl, identified as Hannah (surname withheld), to Libya in February 2026, where she was allegedly forced into prostitution.

Police said operatives visited Adamo, Ikorodu, on June 1 to arrest the suspects but only found Martina Adebayo, who was allegedly preparing to travel to Libya alongside the victim.
Investigators further alleged that Adebayo specialised in recruiting young girls, inviting them to her residence in Adamo before taking them to her mother’s home at Lucky Fibre, Itokin Road, Ikorodu, where arrangements are allegedly made to transport them out of Nigeria.

The victim, who had been living with her father in Okonron, Adamo, Ikorodu, was allegedly lured by Tosin in late January 2026.
She reportedly travelled through Ghana before arriving in Libya in February 2026, from where she later escaped and returned to Nigeria on May 27, 2026.

According to the charge filed by the police in the case between the Commissioner of Police and the defendant, Adebayo and her daughter allegedly conspired to traffic young girls for prostitution.
The charge alleged that between February and March 2026, at No. 12 New Era Street, Parata, Ikorodu, Lagos, the defendant and her daughter conspired to harbour and traffic three girls from Ikorodu to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for the purpose of prostitution, contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

During the earlier proceedings, the prosecuting counsel, Adegoke Philip, urged the court to remand the defendant for 30 days pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
However, defence counsel, Raji Lateef, opposed the application and sought bail, arguing that the defendant was not a flight risk and would be available for trial.

During yesterday’s proceedings, defence counsel, Ayo Odekunle, maintained that Adebayo was innocent and had no involvement in the alleged trafficking.
In response, the prosecuting counsel informed the court that the victims were present.

The magistrate then invited one of the victims for a brief questioning before calling the Investigating Police Officer, Bunmi Adejobi, to testify.
After listening to all the parties, Kusanu asked why the suspect was granted bail on June 9, and then adjourned the matter to October 29, 2026 for mention.