Six Arraigned For Using Cripple To Solicit Alms

Six persons, including two women, who alleg
edly used a physically-challenged teenager to solicit alms, were last Wednesday charged before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused were Chukwuka Eze, 24; Tochukwu Obi, 22; Ogbonna Okoro, 24; Monday Nnoha, 25.
The female accomplices were Amaka Anih, 20, and Chinasa Eze, 21.
The accused, whose addresses are unknown, are facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, extortion and human trafficking.
According to the prosecutor, Insp. Festus Osaghale, the accused with a man still at large had between August 2013 and April committed the offences at various locations in Lagos.
Osaghale said the accused conspired and used a teenager, Chinasa Amakor, a disabled, for street begging.
“The accused capitalised on the disability of Amakor to solicit alms on Lagos streets.”
The prosecutor alleged that the accused and their accomplice unlawfully entered into an agreement with Chinasa’s mother, Victoria Amakor, on how to exploit the disabled.
“The accused falsely presented themselves as a charity organisation, Life Care Foundation, to raise money for the treatment of Chinasa,’’ he added.
Osaghale said the offences contravened Sections 68 (2), 274 (7), 274 (10) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The Tide reports that Section 274 prescribes a 14-year sentence for human trafficking.