A pastor running an illegal orphanage was apprehended by the Lagos State Government after one of the children in his care fell ill.
It was discovered that Pastor Onoyngu Chibuike’s orphanage was not registered with the Lagos State Government after the hospital requested the medical history of the sick child, The Nation reports.
The discovery led to a raid of the clergyman’s home by the Lagos State Task Force and the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development where the other children were found and then rescued.
Chibuike who is the founder of the Voice of Salvation Charitable Organisation and has been operating the orphanage in Ojo since 2010, stated that he registered it with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 2010. This was after he reportedly received a divine mandate to start the orphanage 6 years ago and to rescue society’s helpless children.
“I am from 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 stated during interrogation.
Explaining how he came about the children whom he confessed were acquired by different means, the pastor explained;
“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.
The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs Uzamat Akinbile Yussuf said disciplinary actions would be taken against the pastor after the conclusion of ongoing investigation citing that ignorance is no excuse under the law.
“When you operate an illegal orphanage in Lagos, it is a criminal offence. Your registration with CAC does not give you any licence to operate an orphanage in Lagos. Here we operate with the law that guides us. Orphanage is not a charitable organization you feel God has guided you to go and assist people.
