The Edo State Government, South South Nigeria, said it has arrested one Grace Uwadia for operating an illegal orphanage, “Uwadia Children Home,” in Afuze, Owan East Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Euginia Abdallah, who confirmed Uwadia’s arrest on Thursday, said it was prompted by an alleged adoption scam.
She said Uwadia had been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and prosecution, while ministry officials had begun efforts to extend the search for similar illegal facilities in other parts of the state.
She explained that the incident was triggered by a formal complaint from a victim, identified as Monday Akpaduma, who approached the ministry after noticing irregularities in an adoption process.
A senior official of the ministry, who did not want to be mentioned because of a lack of authorisation, said Akpaduma alleged that he initially applied to adopt a child through the orphanage and paid N250,000 as a processing fee.
“After prolonged delays, he was allegedly informed that the adoption fee had been increased to N2m by the ministry, a claim that raised his suspicion and prompted him to report directly to the ministry,” the official said.
It was gathered that an internal investigation was immediately launched, which revealed that the documents presented by Akpaduma were fraudulent and did not originate from the ministry, despite being issued on an old ministry letterhead, a senior official of the ministry stated.
She added that investigations pointed to a staff member of the Social Welfare Department in Owan East Local Government Council as the source of the documents, suggesting possible collusion with the illegal orphanage in carrying out the alleged activities.
The official, however, disclosed that the local government staff could not be arrested during the operation as he was not present in the office.
“He may have probably heard of the ministry’s visit and left his desk, so he was not around when officials visited the council. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend him, and all individuals connected to the illegal operation will be brought to justice.
“We can also confirm that the proprietor of the illegal orphanage has been handed over to the state police command in Benin for further investigation and prosecution.
Source: Punch News
