The High Court of Ondo State, located in Akure, has issued a ruling compelling the state authorities to compensate a woman, Mrs. Opeyemi Adegboyega, with ₦25 million following the unexplained loss of her infant while under the care of a government-operated child welfare facility.
Delivering the decision, Justice Oluyemi Osadebay strongly rejected the position presented by the defendants, describing their account as lacking credibility and unsupported by convincing evidence.
The dispute arose after Mrs. Adegboyega, who was undergoing medical care for depression and schizophrenia at the Ondo State Neuropsychiatric Hospital, temporarily released her three-month-old baby into the care of a juvenile Centre overseen by the Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. The arrangement was intended to allow her to focus on treatment and recovery.
When she completed her treatment and returned to take custody of her son, officials reportedly informed her that the child had passed away and claimed the remains had already been transferred to a government hospital mortuary.
Seeking confirmation, she visited the hospital but was allegedly told that no infant’s remains matching the description had ever been received from ministry officials. The discovery created further uncertainty and deepened concerns about what had actually happened to the child.
Following unsuccessful efforts to obtain a clear explanation, Mrs. Adegboyega instructed her legal counsel, Oju Kekemeke, to begin legal proceedings against the Ondo State Government and the ministry responsible for the juvenile facility.
After reviewing the facts and submissions from both sides, the court concluded that the child disappeared while under official supervision and that the authorities failed in their responsibility to ensure his safety and proper care.
The judgment acknowledged that the incident had caused the claimant profound emotional suffering, severe distress, and continuing psychological effects resulting from the unresolved loss of her child.
To address the harm suffered, the court awarded ₦10 million as punitive and aggravated compensation and another ₦15 million as general damages connected to the emotional pain and trauma experienced by the claimant.
In addition, the court directed the defendants to pay ₦200,000 to cover litigation expenses.
The decision underscores the responsibility placed on government institutions to protect vulnerable individuals entrusted to them and confirms that failures in that duty may result in legal consequences and financial liability.
