4 women arraigned over child trafficking

An Abuja High Court has remanded four women in police custody on charges of criminal conspiracy and child trafficking. The suspects, identified as Precious Silas (30), Ngozi Unukwuwa (47), Chisinau Onukwuagha (40), and Favour Ohebegeim (25), all residents of Karimo, were arraigned on Tuesday. The prosecution counsel, Mr. Donatus Abah, told the court that the […]

An Abuja High Court has remanded four women in police custody on charges of criminal conspiracy and child trafficking.

The suspects, identified as Precious Silas (30), Ngozi Unukwuwa (47), Chisinau Onukwuagha (40), and Favour Ohebegeim (25), all residents of Karimo, were arraigned on Tuesday.

The prosecution counsel, Mr. Donatus Abah, told the court that the four women allegedly brought three boys, aged seven, eight, and twelve, from Imo State with the false promise of enrolling them in school. 

He said, instead, the women allegedly pretended to be blind and used the boys for begging. 

Abah noted that the offence contravenes provisions of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, and the Child’s Rights Act, 2003.

The women pleaded not guilty to the charges and their counsel, B.C. Nnadika, presented a bail application, to which the prosecution did not object.