Four fake blind beggars remanded for child trafficking

Four fake blind beggars all of them women, charged with child trafficking have been ordered by Abuja High Court on Tuesday to be remanded in police custody

Penpushing reports that the accused Precious Silas, (30), Ngozi Unukwuwa(47), Chisinau Onukwuagha(40) and Favour Ohebegeim(250, were charged with criminal conspiracy and child trafficking.

The defendants are all residents of Karimo, a neighbourhood in the phase three region of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja (FCT), and during a resumed hearing, the prosecution counsel, Donatus Abah, told the court that they used three teenage boys for alms begging in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Penpushing further reports that the prosecutor Donatus Abah told the court that the defendants brought the teenage boys aged seven, eight and 12, from Imo with a promise to enrol them in schools, alleged that the four women pretended to be blind and used the boys for begging for alms.

The prosecutor added that the women were, however, exposed by the Brekete Family, a human rights radio and television programme, stressing that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 14(b) and 27 of the Trafficking in persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

Penpushing also reports that the prosecutor added that the offences violated sections 3(1), (2) and (3) of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003, while the four defendants pleaded not guilty to charges against them.

The counsel to the defendants, B.C Nnadika, made an application for their bail, which the prosecuting counsels, did not oppose the application.

Penpushing reports that the vacation judge of the court, Justice Cyprian Agashieze, adjourned the hearing on the bail application until Wednesday.

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