By Samuel Adeola
An Abuja High Court on Tuesday ordered four women to remain in police custody over allegations of child trafficking.
The accused; Precious Silas (30), Ngozi Unukwuwa (47), Chisinau Onukwuagha (40), and Favour Ohebegeim (25), all residents of Karimo, FCT, were charged with criminal conspiracy and child trafficking.
Prosecution counsel Donatus Abah told the court the women brought three boys, aged 7, 8, and 12, from Imo State, under the pretense of enrolling them in school.
Instead, they allegedly forced the children into street begging in Abuja, pretending the boys were blind to solicit alms.
The case was exposed by the Brekete Family human rights programme.
Abah noted that the alleged offences contravene sections 14(b) and 27 of the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2015, and sections 3(1)-(3) of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003.
The defendants pleaded not guilty. Their lawyer, B.C. Nnadika, applied for bail, which the prosecution did not oppose.
Justice Cyprian Agashieze adjourned ruling on the bail application until Wednesday.
Under Nigeria’s Trafficking in Persons Act, offenders face a minimum of seven years imprisonment, a N1 million fine, or both.
