Benjamin Omoike l Tuesday, December 06, 2016
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has rescued 12 children from the custody of one pastor Onoyngu Chibuike, Founder of Voice of Salvation Charitable Organization, an illegal orphanage in Ojo area of Lagos, which had been in operation since 2010.
The long arm of the law caught up with the pastor Chibuike last week when one of the children in his care took ill and was taken to hospital for medical attention.
Inquiries by the hospital about the medical history of the child revealed that pastor Chibuike, who owns the supposed orphanage is not registered under the Lagos State Government as stipulated by the law.
A raid on the orphanage which took officials of the Lagos State Task Force and officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development some days, led to the rescue of the innocent children from the orphanage.
Pastor Chibuike, during a preliminary interrogation by the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharmacist (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile Yussuf at Alausa Secretariat Ikeja on Monday, claimed that he received a call from God to start the orphanage home over six years ago so as to rescue helpless children from societal vices and misdemeanor and as such, he registered the orphanage with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2010.
“I am a native of Anambra State. I am called by God to render this service to humanity by helping the less-privileged such as widows, motherless children and homeless people. I provide adequate care for these children till their parents can take over their care. For those that were abandoned, I train them even up to university level,” he said.
According to him, these children were acquired through different means. “Some of these children here were brought to me by the police, some were brought by their biological mothers who in some instances claimed they had the children out of wedlock and they cannot attend to the needs of the children or shoulder their responsibilities”
“Based on this, the person will put down his or her name and we will accept the child in order to assist the child. Our affection is on children because we know that if we reject any child, chances are that the children are exposed to the wrong sides of life and might die in the process. Based on this, we will accept the child and take care of the child.”
The Commissioner during the interrogatory session with the pastor, maintained that disciplinary actions would be taken against him after further investigations that would be carried out by the police, stressing that ignorance is not an excuse under the law.
She said, “When you operate an illegal orphanage in Lagos, it is a criminal offence. Your registration with CAC does not give you any license to operate an orphanage in Lagos. Here we operate with the law that guides us. Orphanage is not a charitable organization where you feel God has guided you to go and assist people.
“We are talking about children here and there is a law in place protecting the rights of these minors. The Lagos State Child’s Right Law of 2007 guides all the children that live in Lagos State. Whatever you need to do, you need to be well guided by the law. You don’t just operate at will, being led by the Holy Spirit to assist the less-privileged is a good idea but you have to operate within the ambit of the law that guides your engagement,” she said.
Twelve (12) out of the 15 children in his custody have immediately been taken over by the State Government and would be placed under the care of the State Government until suitable homes are secured for them. Two of the 15 children were still with the Voice of Salvation Orphanage as at the time of the interrogation but would also be taken into the state’s custody while the one in hospital is being monitored by officials of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.
Chibuike, who was emotional, was handed over to law enforcement agents for further investigation and disciplinary action. He was also ordered to provide the case file documentation on all the children in his orphanage. He pleaded for mercy, adding that the work he is doing is a directive from God.
