In a judgment by Justice Oluyemi Osadebay, it was determined that the evidence provided by the defendants (the state government) was “unbelievable, unconscionable, unsubstantiated, untrue and untenable.”

Mrs. Adegboyega had filed a lawsuit against the Ondo State Government following the loss of her infant son, Omoniyi Oluwaseun, who was taken into the care of the Ministry of Women Affairs during her treatment for mental health issues at the Ondo State Neuropsychiatric Hospital. After her discharge, she was informed that her child had died and that the body had been placed at a hospital mortuary. However, upon visiting the State Specialist Hospital, she learned that no such body had been deposited there, prompting her to seek legal redress.

The court found that the negligent actions of the Ondo State Government and the Ministry of Women Affairs were responsible for the child’s disappearance. The ruling acknowledged the severe emotional distress, anguish, and psychological trauma that Mrs. Adegboyega experienced as a result of the incident. The payout consists of N10 million as exemplary and aggravated damages, N15 million for general damages addressing her psychological suffering, and an additional N200,000 for legal costs incurred during the process. This judgment highlights an egregious failure in child custody protocols by state authorities, thereby reaffirming the need for accountability within the government framework.