In order to checkmate the menace of begging in the state, the Lagos State Government has arraigned 39 beggars at the Special Offences Court in Alausa, Ikeja for soliciting alms and constituting public nuisance.
The prosecutor in the case, Mr. Ade Ipaye, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, was represented by a lawyer in the ministry on Monday.
The beggars were accused of parading themselves as disorderly persons without feasible means of livelihood, thereby committing an offence under the criminal law of Lagos State.
They were also accused of conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace as well as for receiving unauthorized levy from persons and thus committed offence punishable under the law on illegal collection of dues in public places.
All 39 beggars pleaded guilty to the offences and were therefore remanded in Kirikiri and Badagry Prisons.
However, it was learnt that nine of them were taken to the state Rehabilitation Home, Majidun, Ikorodu as a result of their disabilities.
According to the government, the 39 beggars that were arraigned on Monday were the second set to appear in court in three days.
Three of the beggars were sentenced to 72 hours community service or fines of N5,000 each, while 10 others were sentenced to three months imprisonment or fines of N10,000 each.
The remaining beggars were sentenced to 72 hours community service without the option of fine.
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