A Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has sentenced 29-year-old Eniola Boluwatife Adedeji to 45 years imprisonment for trafficking a minor to Cotonou, Benin Republic, for sexual exploitation.

Adedeji was convicted on nine of the 10 counts preferred against her by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). She was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.

The Ogun State Commander of NAPTIP, Bose Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement yesterday, noting that the conviction was secured before Justice A.J. Adeyemi of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta.

Jimoh said police officers arrested the convict in Adigbe, Abeokuta, on August 18, 2024.

She explained that investigations established Adedeji’s involvement in the cross-border trafficking of a minor, leading to her arraignment and formal prosecution before the court on September 24, 2024.

The trial commenced on March 12, 2025, and lasted several months before judgment was delivered on June 5, 2026. The court found the defendant guilty on counts one to eight and count 10, but discharged and acquitted her on count nine.

The offences contravened various provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

The Act prescribes severe penalties for anyone found guilty of recruiting, transporting, or exploiting persons for sexual or labour exploitation.

NAPTIP said the victim, whose identity was withheld for protection, was trafficked to Cotonou in the Republic of Benin for sexual exploitation.

The agency described the conviction as a strong warning to human traffickers operating within and outside Nigeria.

Jimoh commended the judiciary for its commitment to justice and praised the diligence of the prosecutors and investigators who handled the case. She also urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities involving minors to law enforcement agencies.

The court’s decision adds to recent convictions secured by NAPTIP in Ogun State, including the 12-year prison sentence handed to 27-year-old Chukwuemeka Iheamama for trafficking two minors.

The agency reiterated its resolve to prosecute offenders and protect vulnerable Nigerians from modern-day slavery.