Anambra state government has handed over Rev Deborah Ogo, founder of Arrows of God Community Children’s home in Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) over alleged illegal adoption.
Recall that after an investigation by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), the facility was in August sealed by the government over the illegal adoption of 20 children, including a newborn who were later recovered from the operator who had since been at large.
The commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo who disclosed on Wednesday, October 4, said the handover followed viral reports alleging that the Ministry was involved in illegal adoption of a baby girl alongside one of her registered homes in the state.
Obinabo decried the bad image the orphanage operator had given the state despite the government’s efforts to rid the state of corrupt adoption practices.
She warned other operators of children’s homes to desist from all forms of illegalities capable of tarnishing the image of the state.
While quizzing the suspect on why she carried out the illegal adoption process amidst warnings, she could not offer any reasonable excuse but rather said it was her secretary who handled the adoption.
She also said it took her two months to honour the commissioner’s invitation after sealing the home, due to ill health.
