LITTLE SAINTS ORPHANAGE IN CHILD TRAFFICKING SCANDAL

It is no longer news that notable Nigerian engage in child trafficking for monetary benefits, but when it comes from someone the society least expects to engage in such an act, then eyebrows are raised. That is the case of Rev. (MRs) Dele George the proprietress of Little Saint Orphanage, Lagos. News of the People can reveal that Mrs. Dele George, through Little Saints is alleged to be engaged in child trafficking. We gathered this from one Miss Ruth Obianuju OKeke who recently disclosed how she came in contact with the Little Saints Orphanage’s Proprietress. Miss Okeke who says she got to know Mrs. Dele George through an NTA Newscaster, revealed that the Little Saints Orphanage boss gave her unrestricted access to the orphanage branches, unwittingly enabling her to know what goes on there.

Contrary to what many believe, Miss Okeke alleges that Little Saints is not merely an orphanage home, but a clever smokescreen for child trafficking.

News of the People’s investigations reveal that Little Saint Orphanage since inception in 1994 by Rev. (Mrs.) Dele George has become some sort of mascot for all abandoned and homeless children.

Leaving her business when she had this calling meant she had to deprive hersef to see that other prospered. The Orphanage has four branches at (Strong Tower House, 6B D’alberto Road, Palm Groove Estate); (Dorcas Osibona House , 15 Joe Ona Agbato Street, Ogudu G.R.A); (149, Ekoro Road, ABule Egba) and (10, Ayinde Bisi Close, off Hani Animashaun Street, Akowonjo), all in Lagos. We can reveal that the Ogudu branch has enough space for young girls. Abule-Egba is where pregnant young girls are camped, contrary to the belief that the place is where more children with special needs are rehabilitated. It is however true that children with disabilities are handled there.

According to Miss Okeke, “The young girls in Ogudu when they conceive, are taken to the Abule-Egba branch to give birth and the Little Saints Orphanage will adopt the babies and the girls. That girls are paid the sum of N8,000 for being camped in the house by the proprietor”.

When News of the People visited the branch, young teenage girl were seen at Ogudu branch, but what they do there could not be ascertained. Miss Okeke disclosed further that while she was in that camp, one of the girls was overheard saying that she should be allowed to go out of the home, as she was no longer enjoying her stay there, that she wanted to get out, get married and be useful to her life.

Judging from the girl’s reaction, Miss Okeke concluded that the young girls may have been camped in the house against their wish, with strict conditions for getting out. The Akonwojo branch is the arm of the orphanage where young boys are camped. The babies that these teenage girl at the home give birth to might never be seen bu them again since the babies are taken back to the Ogudu branch from the Abule-EGba branch afther giving birth. This is because the babies are allegedly adopted against their wish by Little Saints, which then offers them for adoption to wealthy Nigerian. “I got to know about all these because Mrs. Dele George gave me a written note to their ABule-EGba branch asking them to give me free access to whatever I wanted. That was how I came to know all these from Little Saints Orphanage.” Miss Okeke said further.

When News of the People contacted Rev. (Mrs). Dele George through phone and email on these allegations made against by Miss Ruth Obianuju Okeke, she initially declined to respond to them. When she called us later, she only spoke on how she met Miss Okeke and what transpired between them. We reminded Mrs. George that she had neglected to respond to the earlier email we sent to her on the allegations.

She could not affirm or deny them, but merely said she could not comment on any of the allegations. One Mr Christopher Olaosebikan, who claims to be a Civil Servant with the Lagos State Government, later got through to News of the People saying he called on behalf of Mrs. Dele George on the allegation made by Miss Okeke. Surprisingly, he offered a plea that we should not listen to what Miss Okeke said, as Mrs. George, though Little Saints Orphanage is serving humanity and cannot engage in such an act.

Earlier this year, a similar child trafficking story was reported where in a similar hostel in Osioma, Abia State teenage girls were delivered of their babies and sold at various prices.

Investigation reveal that about 11 teenage girls were found by detectives from the Anti-Human Trafficking Section in Zone 9 and an 80-year old Mrs. Grace Erondu was arrested in connection with the child trafficking; the girls were mostly students who left their homes and schools after becoming pregnant without the knowledge of their parents and school authorities. We leant that to stop any girl that walks in her den from leaving, Mrs. Erondu would hypnotize them with tales that they were under a spell and she alone could save them.

She would, thereafter, use a locally made gin and beer to bathe them as a way of cleansing them. The girls said their babies were taken from them by unknown persons soon after delivery. A 19-year old Miss Akachi Uche Ijeoma from Imo state said the recently delivered a baby in the home but did not know who came to collect the baby. “I gave birth to a baby but I do not know the woman that carried the baby away”. She said. This child trafficking incidence has contributed to the ever increasing number of the cases of missing person reported daily.

My name is Miss Ruth Obianuju Okeke

There is a woman call Rev. (Mrs.) Dele George of the Little Saints Orphanage. I came in contact with her about a month now. Before meeting her, I was in the process of going to the television station to tell Nigerians about problems. At NTA, Victoria Island, Lagos. I met a female newscaster whom I explained my problem tp. She later took me and my son to NTA Channel 10. When we got there, she kept us at the reception room and returned later with a written not and sum of N1000 that I should   go to Rev. (Mrs.) Dele George’s Little Saints Orphanage Home. When I got there, I told them my problem.

I told them that I have a little baby. I once lived in Port Harcourt. I had already put up my son to be adopted at an earlier stage of his life, but people advised me to go and take the child back since I was being deprived of seeing him whenever I wanted to and since I had the right as a mother over my own child. I did exactly that by taking the child back to my family. But my family members rejected me and the baby. So, I had to take back the child. He is five-year old now and I can’t throw him away, he is my own blood.

Because taking care of him all alone is above my capacity, but later I decided to bear the cross. I later got a house through the help of a man, but he came to me one day saying he is no longer interested in the house that I should find my level. HE drove me out dropped me.

The father of the baby even beat me up, saying he is not the father of the baby, that I should go and took for the father of the child. At that time, I was fored to go to the Women Lawyers Association at Yaba, Lagos and they made an attempt to help me, but later abandoned me in the middle of the matter. From there, I went to another Welfare office but they could not accept us for reasons best known to them. I took it upon my shoulder to bear the suffering by myself. Finally the owner of the house where I live started threatening my life. He would come to me by 2am or 3am saying he would remove the roof of the house.

That I should leave the house if I am sure that I’m married. I should go get aother house with my husband, the house is one of these Pako (wood) houses.

Actually, I gave him the sum of N30,000 but because there was no receipt of documentation that effect, I could not lay strong claims to anything. The house is located very close to ICAN office at Ago-Palace Road, Okota, Lagos, owned by one Mr. Emmanuel Obasi who is a member of Newlife Bible Church, Pako area of Ejigbo. The man collaborated with the area’s Landlords Association with some men that have asked me out before in the area that I refused.

They lied against me and had my belonging thrown out onto the street. After that incident. I have been trying to survive all alone until I decided to go to the NTA

With the help of Rev. (Mrs.) Dele George, after telling her my problems, she took me to Bishop Mike Okonkwo’s wife, and the Bishop’s wife took me to their rehabilitation home located around Mile-two. There I was told I would be trained on fashion on fashion designing, catering, beads making or computer among other. The few fays I was there, I didn’t see myself learning any of those things I was told. They just took me as a full, not knowing that they had a hidden agenda there against me. they planned for me to leave the home as they said, they couldn’t continue to put up with me because I had been to Pastor T.B. Joshua’s Synagogue Church and they don’t have anything to do with the spirit of Synagogue. That was the how they took me to a mental home located in Isolo. On getting there I told them I didn’t like the place that I wanted to leave. But they handcuffed me to prevent me from leaving. They brought a cane and threatened that they would be me up if I made any more noise. At that point, I started praying with my Bible. That was how one of the male Ministers at the mental home came to order them to loose me that I am not a psychiatric patient and he asked them why they had to do such a thing to me.

I don’t know. MRs. Dele George only said she would help me since I am an Evangelist by calling. She would help me to see that dream come through. But at the TREM Rehabilitation Home they ganged up and started laying allegations against me. The TREM Bishop’s wife been accused me of being a prostitute because one night I slept without my cloths on as there was a power failure and we were all women in the hostel.

I was surprised that she took me to a mental home to go and evangelized there, but when I got there, they chained my hands and legs. Without any reasons.

Yes. I did. But the Police only took my statement. Although, I am going further to the television house to let Nigerians know how innocent people are suffering ad dying in the hands of the privileged ones in this country.