By Charles Igwe

In the aftermath of the exposure of the Arrows of God Orphanage child trafficking case in Nkwele Ezunaka, Oyi local government area of Anambra State, a fresh child adoption scam has been unveiled. This time, a nurse was duped of N3 million by a syndicate that promised her the adoption of twins.

The nurse acted as a front for an unidentified individual who provided the money. The mastermind behind the syndicate is a beer parlour operator in Nnobi, Idemili South local government area of the state. After collecting the N3 million from the nurse, the operator opened a chemist shop.

The deception was exposed when the beer parlour operator, who is a mother of three, failed to deliver the promised twins. The case is now before the Chief Magistrate Court in Nnobi, and the individuals involved are revealing their roles in the matter.

A male member of the syndicate, a civil servant, claimed to have participated at the request of a colleague who sought assistance in adopting a baby. Despite being the complainant in the case against the beer parlour operator, he stated he wasn’t aware of the illegality.

The police charged the beer parlour operator with fraud under Section 1, Subsection (1) (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other related offenses Act of 2006. This offense carries a potential jail term of up to 20 years and a minimum of seven years.

The police prosecutor explained that after receiving the N3 million, the operator continuously deceived the nurse about the twins’ delivery. By August 18, 2023, the babies had not been provided. The operator handed over an older child to the nurse, who rejected it, as it wasn’t what they had agreed upon.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Ken Nwoye, highlighted the prevalent child trafficking under the guise of adoption and lamented how orphanages have become hubs for such illicit activities. Nwoye emphasized the importance of legal adoption processes through the Ministry of Social Welfare and advised against illegal adoption practices.

Both the fake nurse, who is a mother of three, and the genuine nurse, who served as the front for the unidentified individual, will face charges of child trafficking. The magistrate stressed that anyone seeking to adopt a baby should follow legal procedures and consult legal experts to ensure the proper course of action.

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