The Edo State Government said it has arrested one Grace Efe 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 in a statement 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 were already meeting to extend the search for such facilities in other parts of the state.
She revealed that the incident was triggered by a formal complaint from a victim identified as Monday Akpaduma, who had approached the ministry after encountering irregularities in an adoption process.
A senior staff member of the ministry said Akpaduma alleged that he initially applied to adopt a child through the orphanage and paid ₦250,000 as a processing fee. He was said to have claimed that he was subsequently asked to pay an additional ₦1m before the child could be released to him.
“After prolonged delays, he was allegedly informed that the adoption fee had been increased to ₦2m by the ministry, a claim that raised his suspicion and prompted him to report directly to the ministry.
“It was gathered that an internal investigation was immediately launched, which revealed that all documents presented by Mr Akpaduma were fraudulent and did not originate from the ministry, despite being issued on an old ministry letterhead,” the senior staff member stated.
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
