A distressed mother, Mrs. Stella Taylor (nee Osakwe), has raised alarm over the continued detention of her two adopted children at the Benin zonal command of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The minor detainees, four-year old Master Divine William Ikechukwu Taylor and five-month old Sherlyn Nwamaka Taylor, were taken away in September, 2023 when operatives of the anti-trafficking agency raided Mrs. Taylor’s private home in Asaba.
The agency had acted on the strength of a joint petition by Mrs. Taylor’s elderly mother, Ifeoma Osakwe and youngest sibling, Valentina Osakwe, alleging that she was into trafficking of children.
But Mrs. Taylor, in a petition to the Director General of NAPTIP, debunked the trafficking allegation, accusing the Benin zonal commander of the agency, Mr. Nduka Nwanwene of being compromised by her estrange family members to detain her children.
The United States of America-based nurse, alleged that her mother and youngest sibling were out to dispossess her of her property, adding that they had allegedly conspired to also snatch her earlier adopted child, Stella Star Uzomeyea Osakwe which they changed to Nene Star Osakwe in the process of adoption.
According to her, she discovered the fraud in the adoption process when she returned to Nigeria in October 2022, adding that the child was adopted in her youngest sibling’s name despite her bearing the cost.
“I never for one day did anything to forcefully remove the said adopted child from my mother’s custody or did anything in the nature of trafficking the said child. My mother and my youngest sibling are still holding my said adopted child hostage,” she said.
Taylor stated that because of that experience, she decided, on her own, to adopt Ikechukwu and Nwamaka, through the normal process of adoption, adding that yet, her mother and younger sister will not let her be.
“The latest in the effort of my mother and my sibling to subjugate me is their use of Mr. Nduka Nwanwene, the zonal commander of Benin Zone of NAPTIP whom they have financially compromised to weave a false report of trafficking in children 8 and 9 years old my neck and that of my husband via a false petition written to your zonal command by my youngest sibling and my mother alleging child trafficking.
“Pursuant to the said false petition, Mr. Nduka Nwanwene, for no reason via his subordinates stormed my residence in Asaba on the 22nd day of September, 2023, and picked up the occupants of my flat in my building including my two adopted children namely Master William Divine Ikechukwu Taylor, 4 years old and Miss Sherlyn Nwamaka Taylor, 5 months old, whom he has kept in custody at your Benin detention facility since 22nd September, 2023 despite repeated applications that the children be released forthwith to their caregiver.
“Sadly, my son, Master Walliams Divine, a pupil of Patricia Nursery and Primary School, Asaba, has been prevented from going to school by Mr. Nwanwene and his cohorts since the 22nd day of September, 2023.
“It is important to observe that despite an application to enforce the fundamental rights of the detained minors, Mr. Nwanwene in fulfillment of the financial inducement from my mother and youngest sibling, has continued to maintain strangle hold on the said minors who have so psychologically be bruised by their unlawful detention in your detention facility in Benin City,” the petition read.
Mrs. Taylor contended that the action of Mr. Nwanwene brought NAPTIP public ridicule, adding that he was being used to settle family squabbles for no justifiable reason other than to tarnish her and take over her buildings in Asaba.
“I find it difficult to believe that Mr. Nwanwene could lend himself for use by my mother and my youngest sibling just for financial gains by him.
“I therefore plead with you Sir, to immediately conduct and enquiry into the unlawful acts of Mr. Nwanwene aforesaid with a view to prosecuting him for abuse of office and corrupt practices.
“We will gladly discontinue our suit against NAPTIP in particular if my adopted children are released forthwith and appropriate steps are taken against Mr. Nwanwene whom I intend to continue to litigate against alongside his cohorts for his unlawful activities and for his acts of corruption,” she added.
