Court jails Ondo ‘Baby Factory’ operators 14 years, orders forfeiture of cars, houses

The Federal High Court, sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has sentenced a couple, Ogundeji Happiness Ayodele and Prince Ogundeji Abiodun, to 14 years’ imprisonment without the option of fine for operating an illegal baby factory.

The judgment was delivered by Justice F.A. Olubanjo, who convicted the couple on a 10-count charge bordering on detaining victims against their will and deprivation of personal liberty, contrary to Section 19(c) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act (TIPPLEA) 2003.

In addition to the prison term, the court ordered the forfeiture of eight cars and two bungalows traced to the convicts as proceeds of crime. The properties are to be handed over to the Federal Government through the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

The court also directed that N4 million in cash recovered during the investigation be forfeited to the Federal Government through NAPTIP. Furthermore, other properties belonging to the convicts are to be auctioned, with N1 million each from the proceeds paid as compensation to the three victims who testified in the case.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, described the conviction as a landmark judgment that underscores the agency’s resolve to prosecute offenders irrespective of their social standing.

Represented by the Lagos Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Comfort Agboko, Bello said the case began 11 years ago and was concluded on February 26, 2026, after passing through prolonged judicial processes.

According to her, the case was initially referred to NAPTIP in January 2014 by the Nigeria Immigration Service as part of inter-agency collaboration.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the convicts, described as high-profile socialites, operated a popular care home in Ilu Titun, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State. The facility was later uncovered to be a “baby factory,” where underage pregnant girls were allegedly brought in, detained against their will and kept until delivery, after which their babies were sold to buyers.

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The property, located at 10 Sarajo Street, Ilutitun, was searched during the investigation. Items recovered included hospital cards, eight vehicles with keys, two bungalows, N4 million in cash found in the trunk of one of the cars, a poultry farm and various domestic animals.

NAPTIP said it obtained a court order from the Federal High Court, Akure, on May 26, 2014, to seal, attach and seize properties found within the premises.

Agboko described the verdict as a “double-barrel judgment” that not only imposed custodial sentences but also stripped the convicts of assets acquired through the illicit operation, while providing restitution for victims.

“This is a landmark conviction that will serve as a deterrent to criminal elements and a warning to perpetrators of human trafficking that, no matter how long it takes, they will face the full wrath of the law,” she said.

She added that the agency appreciated the support of the judiciary, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police in Akure, and other partners, as well as the media for sustained coverage since the commencement of the case.

NAPTIP reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigerians from all forms of exploitation, vowing to intensify efforts against trafficking networks regardless of the perpetrators’ social status.