David-Chyddy Eleke reviews that Arrows of God Orphanage is battling to redeem its title after allegation of gross sales of infants saved in its care
Final 12 months, the Lagos and Anambra State governments closed down Arrows of God Orphanage Properties in each states. Investigative Reporter, ‘Fisayo Soyombo had disguised himself, along with a woman he employed, they usually introduced themselves as a pair, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Runsewe, who wanted a child for adoption.
When the story ultimately broke, the house was accused of gross sales of infants and was subsequently closed, whereas its proprietor, Rev Chinwe D. Ogo, a clergy girl, was later arrested by authorities of Nationwide Company for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Individuals (NAPTIP).
Because the incident occurred, Rev Ogo, who’s presently standing trial, has insisted that she is completely freed from allegations of gross sales of child or baby trafficking, stating that her orphanage remained one amongst these authorized each in Anambra and Lagos State.
She additionally decried the extent of media trial she has needed to cross via, stating that Soyombo, who posed as Mr Runsewe was made to fulfill all the necessities wanted to undertake the kid, whereas interesting to NAPTIP to unseal its orphanage and save kids from the house, who she known as Arrows Youngsters, from trauma. She stated because the ordeal in August final 12 months, the kids been scattered in various houses.
A petition by Ogo to the Director Common of NAPTIP, which was obtained by THISDAY, and dated fifteenth February, 2024 learn partially: “Through the month of August 2023, we noticed on Tv and skim on Social Media Information platforms, with shock, disbelief and amazement information sponsored by one Fisayo Soyombo
alias Mr Runsewe who claimed to be an Agent of NAPTIP accusing Arrows of God Orphanage of promoting infants.
“This unwarranted assault on the nice fame of Arrows of God Orphanage and Youngsters’s Dwelling, using false pretences, forgery, lies and misrepresentation of info has resulted
in; Subjecting myself and 7 members of employees of Arrows to humiliation, trauma, disgrace and detention by NAPTIP officers, leading to untold hardship, struggling, loss and waste, trauma, not just for me, employees and household, but additionally for Arrows Youngsters.
“This has additionally led to starvation, confusion and disorientation for a lot of Arrows
Youngsters who’re nonetheless scattered in numerous locations inside Lagos and lots of so far as we all know are nonetheless out of Faculty, defeating the aim of offering a house and a cheerful, progressive
life for the kids.
“Could we additionally inform that NAPTIP is conscious that Arrows of God Orphanage is likely one of the three authorities appointed and authorized shelters for social expectant moms in Anambra State.
” Arrows of God Orphanage and youngsters’s residence has by no means purchased or bought a child or baby. We now have submitted all related documentation on Arrows of God Orphanage Registration,
Licences, Operational Tips as obtained from Supervising Ministries in Anambra and Lagos States to your workplace in Awka. We now have complied with all recognized Laws and forwarded our month-to-month reviews to the Supervising Ministries, DSS and SIB.”
Child Oriade and Her Adoption
The child who Soyombo, posing as Mr Runsewe had sought to undertake was stated to be named Child Oriade. THISDAY gathered that Oriade was the kid of a teenage lady, Miss Odenigbo delivered in 2019, however later handed over to Arrows of God Orphanage for caregiving.
Paperwork sighted by THISDAY confirmed that each the Enugu State authorities the place the teenage mom hailed from, and its Anambra counterparts the place the teenage mom lived, and the place Arrows of God Orphanage is positioned had consented that the child be saved within the orphanage.
Ogo insisted that her adoption paperwork had been duly forwarded to Anambra Ministry of Ladies and Youngsters Affairs, complying with regular procedures of adoption, and that there’s a court docket order issued with regard to the approval of the adoption of the child.
Ogo stated there was nothing to indicate that the paperwork offered by Mr Runsewe had been solid. This reporter additionally sighted a lot of the paperwork offered by Runsewe to have the ability to meet up the usual for adoption of the child. The paperwork included: Letter of introduction from Patrick and Rebecca Runsewe, each mother and father of Mr Paul Runsewe (Soyombo), duly stamped by Ogun State authorities, a letter of adoption by Paul Runsewe and his supposed spouse; Chidinma Runsewe, letter of introduction by their village head, one other by the pastor of their church, Religion Apostolic Gospel Ministry and a certificates of health amongst others.
Ogo claimed the doc on face worth seemed actual, and that Runsewe met the situation to undertake a child. She stated: “It isn’t the duty of Arrows of God to find out whether or not paperwork are real or solid, we interview and take care of info introduced by adoptive mother and father. We’re usually busy caring for the kids, we don’t operate as a safety company.
“We forwarded and introduced paperwork obtained to the Supervising Ministry. Nonetheless, on the invention that these paperwork had been solid, one other court docket order has been issued nullifying the adoption and has additionally ordered the return of Child Oriade to Arrows of God Orphanage.
“We’re well-known, and our books and information can be found for inspection.
This unwarranted anguish on the kids, employees and our household has lasted six months and we request you,mo kindly use your good workplace to ask the commissioner, Lagos State
Ministry of Youth and Social Growth to: unseal Arrows of God Orphanage branches in Aja and Obadore, Lagos, which had been sealed on the eleventh and fifteenth of August 2023 respectively, return the kids forcefully faraway from the branches of the orphanage on similar day and adjust to hooked up court docket order nullifying the adoption of Child Oriade who was adopted beneath false pretences by the pretend Mr Runsewe.
“The Court docket has ordered Child Oriade’s return to Arrows Of God; Launch with speedy impact the 3-year previous son of Arrows of God cook dinner, who was whisked away with Arrows Youngsters. NAPTIP Awka department has investigated this matter and has famous that Arrows complies with recognized pointers, procedures, rules and authorized necessities as directed by the
supervising ministries. We plead with you and your workplace as a sort, truthful and simply legislation enforcement company to take speedy motion to make sure restitution.”
Pedigree of Arrows of God
Rev Ogo insisted that Arrows of God has had an untainted fame as a Christian Orphanage for years till Soyombo got here beneath false pretense to undertake certainly one of its kids.
“We now have efficiently raised over 1,200 individuals as college graduates, professionals, women and men with households and so on, we might have been comfortable for NAPTIP to conduct a pre-invasion investigation into the actions of our residence, and never a submit invasion investigation, due to the unfortunate incident of deceit by Soyombo.”
Response from Anambra authorities
In the meantime, claims by Ogo that she had been absolved of blames by the Anambra Authorities couldn’t be confirmed as efforts to succeed in the state commissioner for ladies and youngsters’s Affairs, Hon Ify Obinabo proved abortive.
Rev Ogo had within the wake of the breaking of the story been summoned to the workplace of the commissioner for Ladies Affairs, the place the commissioner, Obinabo had disagreed along with her on the procedures she went via to offer out the kid.
What Makes an Adoption Authorized
In a earlier interview with THISDAY, Obinabo had taken steps to elucidate the processes that each authorized adoption should cross via. She had stated: “First is that you will need to come to this ministry and apply that you simply need to undertake a baby. Once I get the appliance, I’ll now minute it to the top of the kid unit.
” From there, we now begin documentation after we see a baby for you. Additionally, it’s only right here on this workplace that anybody is permitted to be handed over kids which might be legally adopted. The houses from the place the kids are to be adopted will deliver them right here after correct documentation.
“After that, we’ll ship our officers for inspection. We should go to the house of the particular person the place the kid could be taken to, in order that we be sure that the place is conducive, and likewise make sure that the explanations you gave for desirous to undertake a baby are true.
“These are the investigations we do. Within the case of the proprietor of Arrow of God Orphanage, she didn’t do any of this stuff. By the best way, the lady is just not imagined to deal with something like adoption.
“For any adoption to be genuine, my signature and the signature of the everlasting secretary of this ministry have to be within the adoption doc. Additionally the signature of the Justice of the Peace of our particular court docket should even be on the adoption paper.
” You realize Mr Governor opened a particular court docket for us for quick trial of issues referring to baby points. The signature of the Justice of the Peace must be there. These three signatures have to be there and if any of them is lacking, then it’s unlawful.
“Within the case of the Arrow of God Orphanage, my signature wasn’t there, that of the everlasting secretary was not there, they didn’t go to our particular court docket to acquire the consent of the Justice of the Peace, in addition they did not deliver the child right here, which is the one place that handing over kids is finished. She did all the pieces by herself, and no inspection was accomplished.”
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We now have efficiently raised over 1,200 individuals as college graduates, professionals, women and men with households and so on, we might have been comfortable for NAPTIP to conduct a pre-invasion investigation into the actions of our residence, and never a submit invasion investigation, due to the unfortunate incident of deceit by Soyombo