Commissioner confirms EFCC investigations into adoption of children in Orphanage

Kaduna State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, has confirmed that the EFCC has commenced investigation into the adoption of children from the state Orphanage home.

Baba told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna on Wednesday that the investigation followed a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by some individuals.

She said that in spite of the investigation, the government orphanage is still functional and giving out children for adoption.

“But at the moment, some people went to report to EFCC, calling for investigation into revenue generation from adoption.

“If you say we are generating revenue, are we selling these children?

“The orphanage is standing on its own, people are donating to keep the babies, pay the salaries of the workers there and also provide feeding for them.”

According to her, when the government was setting up the adoption committee, a letter was sent to the EFCC in July 2021 to nominate someone to represent it on the committee, but it did not respond or send anyone.

Baba said the adoption committee consists of officials from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), ministry of justice, social workers, and representatives of the association of orphanages in the state, among others.

“They are not hiding anything regarding child adoption while the bank account is also available,” she added.

The commissioner said only a token was being charged for the adoption forms, adding that whatever was generated went mostly to payment of the nannies in the orphanage.

“There are over 30 children at the moment who are being taken care of. People are contributing to take care of the children because they have no where to go.

“We run an open government, anybody can come and investigate,” Baba said.