Police Intelligence operatives from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have arrested and charged four fake blind women for allegedly using children for begging on the streets as they were caught in the act.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the women included Precious Silas, 30, Ngozi Unukwuwa, 47, Chisinau Onukwuagha, 40, and Favour Ohebegeim, 25 .
They were arrested at Karimo area of the FCT with the children, who they were using for begging and charged for conspiracy and child trafficking under the law.
According to the Police, the women were apprehended for allegedly using the children to beg for arms while pretending to be blind.
However, unknown to them, the Police who had mounted surveillance on their conduct, arrested and detained them at the station for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
The Police found them culpable after interrogation and charged them before the Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Donatus Abah, told the court that the four women used the boys aged seven, eight and 12 for alms begging and they brought the boys from Imo to Abuja with a promise to enroll them in schools which turned out to be false.
He alleged that the four women pretended to be blind and used the boys to beg for alms.
Mr. Abah further told Court that the women were exposed by the “Brekete” Family Human Rights Radio and Television programme and they were subsequently arrested and charged before the Court.
He told the court that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 14(b) and 27, of the Trafficking in persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 and Section 3(1), (2) and (3) of the Child’s Rights Act, 2003.
However, they pleaded not guilty.
Their counsel, B.C Nnadika, told the court he has their bail application and asked the Court to grant them bail. The Prosecutor, Mr. Abah, did not object to the request.
The presiding judge, Justice Cyprian Agashieze, the vacation judge of the court in Maitama, Abuja, ordered their remand in custody at the correctional center and adjourned hearing of the bail application.