A CLERIC FROM ANAMBRA WHO ILLEGALLY ADOPTED 20 CHILDREN WAS TURNED OVER TO NAPTIP

Babatunji Wusu –

Rev Deborah Ogo, the founder of the Arrows of God Community Children’s Home in Nkwelle Ezunaka, close to Onitsha, has been turned over by the Anambra state government to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) due to an alleged unlawful adoption.
The government sealed the facility in August due to the illegal adoption of 20 kids, including a newborn, who were eventually reclaimed from the owner, who had since gone missing.

Ify Obinabo, the commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, made the announcement on Wednesday, October 4. She stated that the transfer came as a result of widespread accusations that the ministry had participated in the unlawful adoption of a newborn girl with one of her registered houses in the state.

Despite the government’s efforts to purge the state of unethical adoption procedures, Obinabo bemoaned the negative reputation the orphanage operator had given the state.

She issued a warning to other people running children’s homes to stop engaging in any criminal activity that would damage the reputation of the state.

When the suspect was questioned about why she went through with the illegal adoption process despite warnings, she was unable to provide any justification and instead claimed that her secretary was in charge of the adoption.

She added that because of her poor health, it took her two months to accept the commissioner’s offer after the residence was sealed.