An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday, sentenced one Moradeke Adeoti, 33, to three years imprisonment with hard labour for child abuse.

The convict was arraigned before Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola, on November 29, 2024, for unlawfully engaging one Oyindamola Adeoti, 11, in street hawking.

Delivering judgment, Daramola said, “the defendant clearly confessed to giving the victim pepper and palm wine to hawk to raise money to enroll her in school.

The magistrate held, “The prosecution has established the offence against the convict beyond reasonable doubt. I find her guilty as charged and I convict her accordingly. She is hereby sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour or an option of N20,000 fine in lieu of imprisonment,” the magistrate held.

During trial, the Prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Adesegun, told the court that the convict committed the offence on November 22, 2024, in Ado-Ekiti.

Mr Adesegun said that the convict unlawfully engaged an 11-year-old girl, Oyindamola Adeoti, her cousin, in street hawking.

He said that the offence contravened Section 30 (2) of the Child’s Right Law of Ekiti State, 2019.

In her testimony before the court, the convict’s landlady, Bosede Oso, the prosecution’s only witness, gave evidence.

Ms Oso said, “The convict has been ill treating the little girl, her cousin, who was living with her, like a slave, while her children would be in school. The victim would be hawking pepper, palm wine and other things on the street and highway, especially, during school hours.

I and other neighbours had warned her many times, but she refused to change. A man came sometime ago to assist the girl by enrolling her in school, but the convict rejected the offer.

“On November 24, 2024, we received the news that the girl was involved in a motorcycle accident around Omisanjana Area of Ado- Ekiti. Eyewitnesses at the scene told us what happened, and that the girl had been rushed to the hospital. The matter was later reported at the police station.’’

To prove his case, the prosecutor called one witness and tendered the defendant and nominal complainant’s statements and hospital card as exhibits.

The convict’s counsel, Opeyemi Esan, urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

He said that the convict was ignorant of government’s directive and existing laws on child abuse and hawking, especially during school hours.

 (NAN)