The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has brought charges against an 83-year-old woman, Clara Chinwe Deborah Ogo, the founder of the Arrow of God Orphanage in Anambra State, for allegedly engaging in the buying and selling of human beings for various purposes.
NAPTIP’s Communication Officer, Adekoye Vincent, in a statement on Sunday, said Mrs. Ogo was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Awka Judicial Division, presided over by Justice Hauwa Yilwa.
The Guardian reports that Ogo, a retired Army Lt. Col, faces a one-count.
The charge read, “That you Ogo Chinwe Clara Deborah (F) 83 Years old, of 66 Awka Road, Onitsha, Anambra State and others (at large), on July 6th, 2023, at the above address within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did buy and sell a baby, female, 5(Five) months old, and thereby committed an offense punishable under Sections 21 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.”
Earlier in October 2023, the Anambra State Government had handed over the Founder of the Arrows of God Community Children’s Home, Onitsha, Rev D.C Ogo, to NAPTIP following an investigation into the activities of the orphanage by a journalist, Fisayo Soyombo.
Soyombo, in his report, had exposed alleged illicit activities related to illegal adoption and sales of babies linked to the orphanage.
The statement further explained, “Following these revelations, NAPTIP launched a comprehensive investigation, resulting in Ogo’s arrest on October 3, 2023, at 15:10hrs within the premises of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Awka, Anambra State.”
Clara Ogo pleaded not guilty to the charge. The presiding judge granted her bail with a bond of N1.3 million and two sureties in like sum.
Consequently, she was remanded at the Onitsha Correctional Facility pending the fulfilment of her bail conditions. The case has been adjourned to July 10, 2024, for trial.
It will be recalled that Soyombo’s report had also revealed the involvement of the state Ministry of Women and Social Welfare in an illegal adoption of a baby girl alongside one of her registered homes in the state.
The Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, sealed off the Arrow of God Community Children’s Home in Onitsha, over the allegations.
She also denied any involvement of the ministry in the illegal child adoption saga.
