83 years old, ex-Lt. Col. charged for alleged buying and selling of human beings
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has charged the 83-year-old founder of Arrow of God Orphanage in Anambra State, Clara Chinwe Deborah Ogo.
A press statement by the agency’s Communications Officer, Adekoye Vincent, said the 83-year-old Ogo was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Awka Judicial Division ‘for alleged buying and selling of human beings’.
According to the statement, “Clara Ogo, a retired Nigerian Army Lt. Col, and a nurse, owns the orphanage located at Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi L.G.A., Anambra State, with branches in Lagos State.”
In 2023, Arrow of God Orphanage came under investigation 2023 following an investigative journalist’s disclosure of purportedly unlawful adoption and sales of infants associated with the orphanage.
“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,” the statement added.
She was arraigned on a one-count charge, which states: “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 honorable 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”. Clara Ogo pleaded not guilty to the charge.
She was granted bail by the court with a N1.3 million bond and two sureties in the same amount and was placed under detention at the Onitsha Correctional Facility until her bail requirements were met.
The trial has been postponed until July 10, 2024.
The orphanage has been closed.
