A Nigerian court has postponed the trial of Clara Ogo, the 83-year-old founder of an orphanage, who is accused of selling babies under her care. Ogo was arrested a year ago, and her trial has been rescheduled for October.
Ogo, a retired Nigerian Army Lt. Col. and trained nurse, was released on bail after her arrest. Hassan Tahir, head of the Legal Team at Nigeriaโs National Agency for the Prohibition of ing in Persons (NAPTIP), stated that the delay was due to a lengthy investigation.
The investigation into Ogo’s activities began after journalist Fisayo Soyombo exposed alleged illegal operations at her Arrow of God orphanage. In his report, Soyombo detailed how the orphanage was selling babies with the involvement of the police and judiciary. During his investigation, Soyombo was able to purchase a baby, which he handed over to authorities.
Despite providing all necessary information to NAPTIP, Soyombo expressed frustration over the delay in prosecuting the case, questioning the agency’s handling of the situation.
Since January 2024, NAPTIP has secured nearly 30 convictions related to human trafficking, adding to the agency’s total of almost 700 convictions since its establishment in 2003. Human trafficking remains a significant issue in Nigeria, with children often trafficked from southeastern states to countries like Gabon, Cameroon, and Guinea for labor and sexual exploitation.
