A
dedication and thanksgiving ceremony for the relocation of the Light of
Hope Orphanage, Ogun State, was hastily cancelled on Saturday after
protesters stormed the place.
Two underage inmates of the orphanage had
accused its Director, Mr. Olatayo Atunde, of sexually abusing them in
2013. He was subsequently arrested and arraigned before an Ota
Magistrate Court, Ogun State, on four counts.
Presently, Atunde is said to be on bail after a brief stay at the Oba Prison in the Abeokuta area of the state.
The Ogun State government had also barred Atunde from returning to the orphanage, which was located at the Akute area.
The running of the shelter subsequently
fell on the wife, who later accepted the victims back to the orphanage
after the state government took them from the custody of a
non-governmental organisation – Project Alert on Violence Against Women.
However, it was learnt that Atunde
relocated the facility from Akute to Lambe and was set to re-assume the
directorship of the establishment.
A few weeks ago, some corporate
organisations and other sponsors of the orphanage allegedly received a
text message inviting them to a dedication ceremony of the new location
of the orphanage in Ifesowapo Street.
The text message read in part, “Beloved,
come rejoice with us as we celebrate God’s faithfulness in thanksgiving
and dedication of the new place God appointed us on February 22, 2014 at
11am.”
But the ceremony was aborted after some non-governmental organisations organised a protest march to the new abode.
Atunde was said to have got wind of the protest and hurriedly cancelled the ceremony.
It was learnt that an attempt by a senior
official of the state government to plead with the organisers of the
protest to abandon it was also rejected.
When PUNCH Metro visited the new
address, it was deserted. Some buildings within the compound were still
under construction. On a bench under a tree, was a big cake still under
wraps.
A man, who described himself as Atude family friend, Pastor Adebayo, said he was not aware of any dedication ceremony.
But an invited guest, identified simply as Mrs. Olagbemi, told PUNCH Metro that she received a text message on the ceremony.
She said, “I first went to the old
address at Tunde Sebanjo Street and I was told that they moved here. I
am not even aware that Atunde has any case in court concerning child
abuse. I have made donations to the orphanage.”
However, outside the orphanage, members
of many human rights bodies, including Project Alert, Women Arise, Media
Concern and Freedom for Abused Children protested the relocation of the
orphanage.
Executive Director of Project Alert, Mrs.
Josephine Effuah-Chukuwma, said, “It is only in Nigeria that an
orphanage that is being investigated for an alleged crime will be left
to operate. I don’t know why the Ogun State Government is encouraging
impunity. Residents must be aware that a child sexual abuse centre has
been opened in their community.”
Executive Director, Women Arise, Mrs. Joe
Odumakin, demanded the immediate closure of the orphanage and called on
the Ogun State House of Assembly to look into the issue.
She said, “There is no reason for the orphanage to relocate; it is the one who sins that runs away.”
CDA Chairman, Ifesowapo Central, Mr.
Folarin Fambegbe, said, “I am aware that this place was bought a few
weeks ago. I am also aware that it is an orphanage that would be moving
here. However, I have no idea that the owner was in court concerning the
sexual abuse of some minors in the orphanage. We as a community would
not support any criminal act.”
When contacted, Atunde’s wife, who spoke on behalf of her husband, denied that any ceremony was planned.
She said, “Yes, we have a new location,
which we plan to move to very soon, but we have not moved yet. We only
sent text messages to people to notify them that we had relocated to a
new place.
“There was nothing like any dedication
ceremony. We had only planned a prayer meeting. Did you see any guests
there or chairs? There was no music. I am aware there was a protest
against the orphanage, but we will still hold the prayer meeting after
the protest.”
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