FACTS emerged yesterday that the couple paraded on Monday by the police for allegedly running a baby factory in Igando, Lagos State, operated from three locations.
A 15-year-old boy and two toddlers were rescued from the couple’s home yesterday by officials of Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development. House 3, Alhaji Jimoh Sodiq Street, Igando, was said to be used as an orphanage by Adeola and Binta Adebayo. The government has sealed off the place.
The couple, it was learnt, usually kept young expectant mothers at 1, Treasure Palace Close, off Hand of Fair Bus Stop, Ikotun-Igando Road or in an undisclosed location for months and only brought them to the ‘orphanage’ when they were about to give birth.
A petty trader on the street, Iyabeji, said the suspects had been operating the ‘orphanage’ for years, adding that she usually saw heavily pregnant women, ‘’who disappeared after they must have been delivered of their babies’’.
Iyabeji said the expectant mothers patronised her shop, adding that the Matron, Iya Dupe, had worked in the orphanage since 2016.
She said: “I never knew it was a baby factory or an illegal orphanage. You can see how quiet this street is and most of the bungalows have very high fences. So, it is almost impossible for anyone to know what happens behind those fences.
“But I know that I usually see heavily pregnant women come from the orphanage to buy pepper and tomato from me. After sometime, I won’t see the young women again and later on, I will see new ones.
“Also, I know that the mama (matron) who takes care of the children is Iya Dupe. She has been working for the orphanage since 2016. She doesn’t stay there. She used to complain that she wanted to leave because they were not paying her well. She said they paid her N16,000 per month and when she complained, they increased it to N20,000 and they were not regular with the payment.
“She was here this morning. I don’t know where she has gone to. She would have told you more. The teenage boy (Chinedu Dike) you saw inside the orphanage grew up there. No one adopted him and so, all the children there see him as their elder brother.”
The Nation saw children’s footprints at a playground constructed on the left hand side of the ‘orphanage’. Although the rooms had the smell of babies, there was nothing, not even trash on the premises, for investigators to analyse.
Asked if she was ever brought to the ‘orphanage’, six-month-pregnant Precious Emmanuel said no, adding that she was taking to two locations.
She said they were four expectant mothers in all, including Adebayo’s daughter, Balikis.
Emmanuel said: “There was a house I was kept in when I came last November. After we celebrated Christmas, we were relocated to another side. Initially, I wanted to abort my pregnancy but when I got to her, she advised me to keep the baby that after I have been delivered of the baby, she would give the baby out and settle me. I didn’t understand what the settlement meant.
“I wanted abortion because the man who impregnated me maltreated me and sent me packing. My sister also did not want the pregnancy and she asked me to abort it and return to Akwa Ibom. My sister doesn’t know I didn’t abort the baby and she doesn’t know I am still in Lagos.
“We were four pregnant women. Her daughter-in-law, her husband’s daughter, myself and the other lady. No one paid anyone to impregnate us. The person who brought me requested I don’t tell my sister where I was.
“I feel like my pregnancy is seven months but the scan keeps saying six months. She usually took us for scan and she registered us with a private hospital. I don’t know the name of the hospital but I have their card.
“She treated me fine. I usually ate normal food such as garri, rice, beans. It is not true that I used to help her sell drinks. I don’t do anything like that. I only know that Favour used to live with her before she brought her to join us. Her husband’s daughter is Balikis. She is in their house. They never brought me to the ‘orphanage’. This is the first time I am coming here. Since I got to her house, it was only the four pregnant women I saw.”
Mrs. Adebayo, who told reporters at the Police Headquarters in Ikeja on Monday that she was from Abia State but married to a Yoruba man, changed tune yesterday.
She also denied being Igbo, insisting that she was originally from Kasaid: “We came for closure of an illegal orphanage. We discovered that the home has not fully registered with the government. She put up an application, we came to access the home and we told her that the home was inappropriate for orphanage operation in Lagos State.
“She has not met the operational guidelines of Lagos State and she was instructed not to practice. At the time we came here for inspection, there were no children. But today, you can see for yourself the condition of the two children we found here.
“The children have been evacuated and would be taken to appropriate homes. The woman would face the law at the end of investigation. Police have commenced investigation and the public would be well briefed.
“It has been established that the woman is operating under so many names. We would tie everything to gether and take necessary actions.
“Already the government has warned all orphanages operating illegally in the state to come and register within 14 days. Any orphanage that refuses to comply with this directive within the given period would face sanctions. We appeal to the public to continue to provide us with useful information on orphanages suspected to be running illegal businesses.”
