Woman risks imprisonment for using children as beggars

For allegedly using her children as beggars on the streets, Ayo Okegbero, 36, on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

Okegbero, an unemployed woman, who resides at Ojota, Lagos, is being tried for causing the breach of peace.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Simeon Inuoha, told the court that the offence was committed on November 22 at Maryland, Lagos.

Inuoha said that the accused forced two of her children to act as beggars on the streets.

“The children were apprehended by the police on patrol, and they confessed that it was their mother that told them to be begging,” he said.

Inuoha also said that the children did not go to school and they were eight and 10 years old.

He said the offence contravene Section 166 (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B. O. Osunsanmi, granted the accused a N50,000 bail, with two sureties in like sum,adjourned the case to Feb. 20 for mention.

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