NAPTIP Scores Major Victory as Supreme Court Jails Human Trafficker

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 — In a landmark ruling for Nigeria’s fight against modern slavery, the Supreme Court has affirmed the seven-year prison sentence of Titilayo Folorunso for her involvement in a cross-border human trafficking syndicate. The unanimous judgment, delivered on May 8, 2026, marks the final legal defeat for the convict, upholding previous rulings from both the trial court and the Court of Appeal.

​According to a statement released on Tuesday by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Folorunso was convicted on multiple counts, including procurement for prostitution and organizing foreign travel for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

​Investigations revealed a harrowing trail of deception. Folorunso reportedly lured a victim with the promise of a lucrative teaching position in Malta. However, the victim was instead trafficked through the Niger Republic to Libya. Once there, she was subjected to a cycle of severe abuse, forced abortions, and sexual exploitation. In its final verdict, the apex court dismissed Folorunso’s appeal for lacking merit, reinforcing the judiciary’s zero-tolerance stance on human trafficking.

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​Lagos High Court Convicts Second Trafficker

​In a parallel victory for the agency, the Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced another trafficker, Bose Jimoh, to seven years in prison. Presiding on May 7, 2026, the court found Jimoh guilty of organizing illegal foreign travel and exporting victims for exploitation, offenses punishable under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015. In addition to the jail term, Jimoh was ordered to pay a fine of ₦4 million.

​NAPTIP Director-General, speaking on the recent legal triumphs, noted that these convictions serve as a stern warning to traffickers. The agency remains committed to dismantling the networks that profit from human misery.