The Edo State Government has shut down an orphanage home and arrested its operator over an alleged adoption scam in the state.
The facility, identified as Uwadia Children Home, is located in Afuze, the administrative headquarters of Owan East Local Government Area, and is operated by Mrs. Grace Efe Uwadia.
The State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, , disclosed this during an official visit to the home.
Abdallah said the facility was sealed following complaints of irregularities in an adoption process raised by one .
According to her, a staff member of the Social Welfare Department in Owan East Local Government Council, , has been declared wanted in connection with the incident.
She alleged that the staff member was the source of the documents used in the transaction, noting that evidence pointed to a possible conspiracy between him and the illegal orphanage to carry out the alleged fraudulent activities.
The commissioner revealed that the proprietress of the orphanage has been handed over to in Benin City for further investigation and prosecution. She added that the local government staff could not be arrested during the operation as he was not present at his duty post.
Abdallah, however, vowed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspect, stressing that all individuals linked to the illegal operation would be brought to justice.
She explained that the complainant alleged he initially paid N250,000 as a processing fee for adopting a child from the home. He was later asked to pay an additional N1 million before the child could be released.
“After prolonged delays, he was allegedly informed that the adoption fee had been increased to N2 million by the ministry, a claim that raised suspicion and prompted him to report directly to the ministry,” she said.
According to Abdallah, an internal investigation revealed that all documents presented by the complainant were fraudulent and did not originate from the ministry, despite being issued on an outdated official letterhead.
She further disclosed that the Edo State Government has evacuated the children from the orphanage to a safe location, with some currently receiving medical attention.
Reiterating the government’s stance, the commissioner emphasized zero tolerance for exploitation, fraud, or any illegal practices involving vulnerable children. She also clarified that the ministry does not charge arbitrary or inflated fees for adoption.
Abdallah urged members of the public to always verify adoption procedures directly with the ministry and report any suspicious activities.
She assured that the affected children are now in safe custody and receiving proper care, while investigations into the matter continue.
