The Anambra State government on Wednesday sealed an orphanage home, Arrow of God Community Children’s Home, in Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area.

Ify Obinabo, the state’s Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, while speaking to reporters after sealing the facility, said the licence of its owner had also been withdrawn indefinitely.

Ms Obinabo said the action followed a news report accusing the ministry of involvement in the illegal adoption of a baby girl in connivance with one of the registered homes in the state.

She added that the founder of the orphanage home, Deborah Ogo, presently at large, had ignored her invitation to explain.

According to her, the founder’s refusal to honour the ministry’s invitation contributed to sealing the facility in collaboration with security operatives.

The commissioner said 10 boys, nine girls and a newborn were rescued from the facility and are currently in the ministry’s custody.

She said appropriate steps were being taken to trace and reunite the children with their families.

Ms Obinabo said the ministry was neither aware of any adoption with the orphanage home nor did the process pass through it.

She identified major irregularities that characterised the adoption process, such as the absence of three signatures, which must be hers, the head of the child unit and the ministry’s permanent secretary.

Ms Obinabo also said the ministry did not certify the court used for the adoption process.

“Part of our mandate is to fight illegal adoption, and we have put up measures to address that, including rules and regulations guiding operations of orphanages in the state.

“We have designated courts, and the homes are aware of these courts because they are not supposed to use any other courts so that we can be in control of all adoptions.

“But Arrow of God went against the instructions. I found out that the founder carried out the adoption through one court in Nnewi to back up her nefarious acts,” she said.

Ms Obinabo warned other orphanage operators involved in illegal adoption to desist from such nefarious acts.

(NAN)