LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Anambra State Government has reportedly sealed an orphanage home, Arrow of God Community Children’s Home, at Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of the State.
State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, while speaking with Journalists after sealing the facility on Wednesday, said the licence of its owner had also been withdrawn indefinitely.
Obinabo’s action followed a report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), on how the orphanage had been involved in illegal child adoption.
The investigative report accused the ministry of complicity in the activities of the orphanage.
According to the commissioner, the founder of the orphanage, Deborah Ogo, presently at large, had ignored her invitation to answer questions.
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Obinabo further disclosed that the founder’s refusal to honour the invitation of the ministry contributed to sealing the facility in collaboration with security operatives.
The commissioner said 20 children, comprising 10 boys, nine girls and a newborn were rescued from the facility and are currently in the ministry’s custody and appropriate steps were taken to trace and reunite the children with their respective families.
Mrs Obinabo said the ministry was neither aware of any adoption with the orphanage, nor did the adoption process pass through the ministry.
She identified major irregularities that characterised the adoption process such as absence of three signatures which must be hers, head of Child Unit and the permanent secretary of the ministry.
“Part of our mandate is to fight illegal adoption and we have put up measures to address that, including rules and regulations guiding operations of orphanages in the State.
“We have designated courts and the homes are aware of these courts because they are not supposed to use any other courts, so that we can be in control of all adoptions.
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“But Arrow of God went against the instructions. I found out that the founder carried out the adoption through one court in Nnewi to back up her nefarious acts.
“As soon as we saw the video, we rushed to the facility with police but discovered that the owners had disappeared, abandoning the entire children.
“We immediately sealed the facility and withdrew their licence, while we brought the entire kids to the ministry to ensure their safety and upkeep,” she said.
Mrs Obinabo warned other orphanage operators involved in illegal adoption to desist from such nefarious acts.
She also urged intending adoptive parents to be wary of those parading themselves as the ministry’s consultants in facilitating adoption processes.
“The ministry has not engaged the services of any consultant. Always report any suspicious activity found in any orphanage to us for appropriate actions,” she added.