4 men, 2 women arraigned for allegedly using cripple to solicit arms in Lagos

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(Nigeria) Six persons, including two women, who allegedly used a physically-challenged teenager to solicit alms, were on Wednesday charged before an Apapa Magistrate Court in Lagos.
The accused are Chukwuka Eze, 24; Tochukwu Obi, 22; Ogbonna Okoro, 24; Monday Nnoha, 25.
The female accomplices are 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 six accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr P.A. Ojo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 each with one surety each in like sum.
He said each of the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail condition.
Further hearing in the case has been fixed for May 21.

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