Nigeria delays trial of orphanage founder accused of baby trafficking
A Nigerian court postponed on Thursday the trial of an 83-year-old woman, founder of an orphanage, accused of buying and selling babies under her care. The woman was arrested a year ago, raising questions about why authorities have taken so long to bring her before a judge.
Clara Ogo, a retired Nigerian Army Lt. Col. and trained nurse, was released on bail after her arrest. Her first hearing is now scheduled for October, after vacation time, Hassan Tahir, the head of the Legal Team of Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), told OCCRP.
The delay in arraigning her was due to the lengthy investigation, Tahir explained.
The agency began investigating Ogo after journalist Fisayo Soyombo exposed alleged illegal activities at her Arrow of God orphanage. In his report, Soyombo described how the Christian orphanage was selling babies with the collusion of the police and judiciary. While working on the story, he managed to buy a baby himself, which he later handed over to authorities.
Ogo was arrested soon after, and Soyombo now questions why her trial has been delayed for so long.
“I don’t have confidence in NAPTIP regarding their handling of the baby and the prosecution,” he told OCCRP.
Soyombo said he had cooperated fully with NAPTIP, providing all necessary information, yet there is still a significant delay in prosecuting the case.
Since January 2024, nearly 30 human traffickers have been convicted from NAPTIP investigations. The agency has secured almost 700 convictions since its inception in 2003.
Most trafficked children are taken from southeastern states and trafficked by sea to countries like Gabon, Cameroon, and Guinea for labor, prostitution, and other forms of sexual exploitation. Nigeria remains a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking.
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