Lagos – The Yaba Magistrate Court 5 in Lagos has sentenced a woman to two months imprisonment without an option of fine for using two children to beg for alms in different parts of the state.
The woman was arraigned before the court by the Lagos State Ministry for youth and social development.
According to the Ministry, the woman was caught by officials at Herbert Macaulay area of Ebute-Metta, Yaba, while using two children to beg for alms .
The court also ordered the ministry to take custody of the two children pending the time the woman will complete her prison sentence.
In his reaction, the Commissioner for youth and social development , Mr Segun Dawodu said the children will be taken to the Juvenile Welfare Center for proper care.
Dawodu reiterated that the ban placed on street begging and use of babies and children for alms on the streets of Lagos is still very much in force, saying that anyone caught contravening the law will be dealt with accordingly.
He said the convicted woman was found to be in the habit of using different babies/children to beg for alms, hence the decision to arraign her.
Dawodu, lamented the increasing rate of using babies and children to beg for alms in different parts of the state, saying that the act does not befitting the status of the state and will not be condoned.
“This act is not only an indication of child abuse but it is a clear violation of fundamental rights of our children as enshrined in Lagos State Child Rights Law 2015 which the State Government will continue to implement to the letter,” he said. (vitalnewsngr.com)
