A woman identified as Grace Efe Uwadia, who allegedly runs an unlicensed orphanage known as Uwadia Children Home in Afuze, Owan East Local Government Area, has been arrested by the Edo State Government.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Euginia Abdallah, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Thursday, April 22, noting that it followed allegations of an adoption scam.
According to her, Uwadia has been handed over to the Edo State Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution. She added that ministry officials have begun expanding checks to uncover similar illegal facilities across the state.
The case reportedly arose after a formal complaint by a man identified as Monday Akpaduma, who approached the ministry over suspected irregularities in an adoption process.
A senior ministry official said Akpaduma claimed he initially paid ₦250,000 as a processing fee to adopt a child from the orphanage. He later alleged that he was asked to pay an additional ₦1 million before the child could be released.
After delays, he was reportedly told that the adoption fee had been increased to ₦2 million by the ministry—a claim that raised his suspicions and led him to report the matter.
Preliminary investigations suggested that documents used in the process may have originated from a staff member in the Social Welfare Department of the Owan East Local Government Council, pointing to possible collaboration with the illegal orphanage.
However, the official linked to the case was not present during the ministry’s visit and could not be arrested at the time. Authorities say efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend him, adding that all individuals involved will be held accountable.
The commissioner reiterated that the orphanage operator is now in police custody in Benin City, where further investigations are underway.
