Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo on Wednesday, handed over the founder of Arrows of God Community Children’s Nkwelle 33, Rev D. C Ogo to men of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) over allegations of illegal adoption.
Recall that an investigative reporter had done a report that made the rounds on social media and local television stations, alleging that the State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare was involved in an illegal adoption of a baby girl alongside one of her registered homes in the state.
Following the report, the Commissioner said she had invited the orphanage owner to her office in Awka but she did not honour the invitation.
The Commissioner had also visited the said home but all efforts to meet with the owner proved abortive.
Officials of the Ministry thereafter, sealed the home and announced the withdrawal of the operational certificate of the orphanage home, for alleged buying and selling of children.
During the visit, the Ministry’s officials also picked up 20 children within the ages of 1 year to 17 years, including are 10 boys, 9 girls and a new born, who were kept in the care of the state government, while necessary steps were made to trace and reunite them with their different families.
Addressing the founder of the home in her office in Awka today, before she was handed over to the NAPTIP, Hon Obinabo regretted the bad image Rev Ogo has given the state, despite government’s numerous efforts to rid Anambra state of corrupt adoption practices.
The Women Affairs boss therefore warned other community children’s home operators to desist from all forms of illegalities that will bring bad name to the state.
“My Ministry has intensified monitoring and supervision of the orphanages to ensure that their operations fall in line with the standards set by the Ministry.
“Any home found to flout the directives of the Ministry for safe adoption, will be closed down and the license withdrawn,” she warned.
On why she carried out the adoption process despite the commissioner’s warning, Rev Ogo could not come up with any reasonable excuse, but rather said that it was her secretary one Mr Monday who handled the adoption.
When she was asked why it took her two months to surface after the sealing of the home, the suspect Rev Ogo alleged that she was sick hence couldn’t come when she was summoned.
