Ekiti Court Sentences Woman To Three Years Imprisonment For Child Abuse And Street Hawking
In a landmark ruling aimed at reinforcing child protection laws, the Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Tuesday sentenced a 33-year-old woman, Moradeke Adeoti, to three years imprisonment for engaging in child abuse and violating state regulations against child hawking.
Adeoti was first arraigned before the court on November 29, 2024, on a one-count charge relating to the unlawful engagement of an 11-year-old girl, identified as Oyindamola Adeoti, in the act of street hawking. According to the charge, Adeoti had contravened Section 30(2) of the Ekiti State Child’s Right Law of 2019, which prohibits the involvement of minors in commercial activities on the streets or highways.
The court heard that on November 22, 2024, in Ado Ekiti, the defendant compelled the young girl to hawk goods—including pepper and palm wine—during school hours, exposing her to significant physical and emotional risks. The victim, who is believed to be the defendant’s cousin, had been under Moradeke Adeoti’s care for some time.
Testifying before the court, Bosede Oso, the defendant’s landlady, offered a compelling narrative of persistent abuse. Oso told the court that while Adeoti’s own children regularly attended school, the victim was subjected to menial tasks and hawking. “She treated the girl like a domestic slave,” Oso stated. “Even when concerned neighbors intervened and warned her, she refused to listen.”
Oso further revealed that a benevolent individual had offered to sponsor the girl’s education, but Adeoti turned down the offer. The situation reached a crisis point on November 24, 2024, when the girl was reportedly involved in a motorcycle accident while hawking in the Omisanjana area of Ado Ekiti. She sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment, prompting police involvement.
The prosecuting officer, Inspector Adeoye Adesegun, presented key evidence to the court, including the defendant’s signed statement, a witness statement from the nominal complainant, and medical records from the hospital. Only one witness was called to testify during the hearing, but the evidence was deemed sufficient by the court.
In her defense, Adeoti, represented by legal counsel Opeyemi Esan, pleaded for leniency, citing ignorance of the specific laws prohibiting child hawking and expressing regret for her actions. Her counsel argued that the defendant’s intention was to raise funds to eventually enroll the child in school.
However, presiding Magistrate Olatomiwa Daramola dismissed the plea, citing the defendant’s confession and the weight of evidence brought before the court. “The prosecution has proven its case beyond reasonable doubt,” Magistrate Daramola ruled. “The defendant clearly admitted to sending the child out to hawk pepper and palm wine, actions which endanger her welfare and contravene child rights laws.”
Consequently, the court found Moradeke Adeoti guilty as charged and sentenced her to three years imprisonment with hard labour. However, the court offered an option of a ₦20,000 fine in lieu of incarceration.
The judgment sends a clear message to caregivers and guardians across Nigeria: the protection of children is not negotiable, and violations of their rights will be met with full legal consequences. It also serves as a reinforcement of the Ekiti State Government’s resolve to eradicate child labour and ensure that every child has access to education and a safe living environment.
