Baby Factory: Court Jails Ondo Couple 14 Years, Orders Forfeiture of Cars and Houses
By Erewunmi Peace
A Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State, has sentenced a couple to 14 years in prison for operating an illegal baby factory, while also ordering the forfeiture of their assets, including cars, houses, and cash.
The convicted couple, Prince Ogundeji Abiodun and Happiness Ayodele Ogundeji, were found guilty following an 11-year trial led by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The court ordered the forfeiture of eight cars, two bungalows, and ₦4 million that were recovered during investigations.
Additionally, three victims who testified in the case are to receive ₦1 million each from the recovered assets.
The couple had been operating the illegal business in Ilutitun, Okitipupa Local Government Area, where they detained pregnant women and allegedly sold their babies.
NAPTIP and law enforcement agencies have stepped up actions against baby factories across Nigeria, with the court ruling serving as a strong deterrent against human trafficking and unlawful detention.
