By MORONKE BOBOYE

A mother, Chiwendu Oma, 31, and Chisom Ogbonna, 34, on Tuesday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, charged with conducting an unlawful marriage of an underage girl.

The defendants, both residents of Ayobo in Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA in Lagos State, are facing charges of conspiracy and sexual assault, to which the pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecutor, ASP Adegoke Ademigbuji, told the court that the offences were committed in September 2025 at Ayobo.

Ademigbuji alleged that Oma gave her 15-year-old daughter to Ogbonna as a wife, and that Ogbonna repeatedly molested the girl until she fled to a police station, leading to the arrest of the two traders.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 134 and 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Omolara Kushanu, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

She adjourned the case until April 8 for mention. (NAN)