The Anambra State Government has handed over the Founder of the Arrows of God Community Children’s Home, Onitsha, Rev D.C Ogo, who was recently accused of illegal adoption to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons.
Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The ministry had in August 2023 sealed off the orphanage located in Nkwelle 33, near Onitsha over allegations of illegal adoption and selling of children.
About 20 children, including a newborn baby, were recovered from the orphanage while the founder and the employees reportedly fled at the time.
The government’s decision came after an investigative piece published by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism exposed the orphanage for allegedly trading babies for cash.
The report published on August 10, 2023, was an outcome of a 19-month investigation conducted by an investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo.
But in the Wednesday statement, Ikeanyionwu said when the founder was asked why it took her two months to surface after the sealing off of the home, she claimed that she was sick and, hence, could not come when she was summoned.
The statement read, “The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare has handed over the Founder of Arrows of God Community Children’s Home in Nkwelle 33, Rev D.C Ogo, to men of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for illegal adoption.
“This was done following an investigative report which 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.”
The statement quoted the commissioner as lamenting over the bad image Ogo has given the state.
The commissioner was said to have warned other children’s home operators to desist from all forms of illegalities that would bring bad name to the state.
“On why she carried out the adoption process, despite the commissioner’s warning, Ogo could not come up with any reasonable excuse to the question, but rather said it was her Secretary, one Mr Monday who handled the adoption,” the statement added.
SOURCE: PUNCH
