Edo arrests illegal orphanage operator over N2m adoption scam

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.

She said 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 illicit activities.

The staff member, however, disclosed that the local government official could not be arrested at the time of the operation, as he was not present in the office.

“He may have heard of the visit from the ministry and left his seat, so he was not around when ministry 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.”