In a shocking turn of events, Clara Chinwe Deborah Ogo, the 83-year-old founder of the renowned Arrow of God Orphanage, has been arraigned in court for human trafficking.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) brought the charges against Ogo, a retired Nigerian Army Lt. Col and nurse, for allegedly buying and selling human beings.
The orphanage, located in Nkwelle-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, with branches in Lagos State, came under scrutiny in 2023 after an investigative journalist exposed alleged illicit activities related to illegal adoption and sale of babies.
Ogo was arrested on October 3, 2023, and subsequently arraigned on one count bordering on human trafficking. She pleaded not guilty and was granted bail with a bond of N1.3 million and two sureties in like sum.
The presiding judge remanded her at the Onitsha Correctional Facility pending the fulfilment of her bail conditions.
The trial has been rescheduled to July 10, 2024. In the meantime, authorities have sealed the Arrow of God Orphanage.
This development highlights the ongoing efforts of NAPTIP to combat human trafficking in Nigeria.
