Child Protection Network Calls For Jada’s Welfare To Guide Adoption Dispute Resolution

CPN National Coordinator, Olakunle Sanni, made the call during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

“Our concern is the child,” Sanni said. “The legal battle is between adults. The child must not become the battlefield.”

The organisation said it has been monitoring the case involving lawyer Timipre Wolo and U.S.-based Pastor Godstime Pender and his wife, Joyce Pender. According to CPN, documents in the public domain have raised questions about compliance with provisions of the Abia State Child Rights Law during the adoption process.

CPN noted concerns over requirements related to residency and prior physical care of the child, and questioned aspects of an adoption order issued by an Abia State Family Court in July 2020 that authorised the child’s movement outside Nigeria. The group stated that these issues appear to require further legal clarity.

According to court documents referenced by the Penders, the child, Jada, was placed temporarily with Wolo in Abuja after COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented her from travelling to the United States. Wolo has disputed that account and has challenged aspects of the adoption and custody arrangement.

In May 2024, the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja struck out Wolo’s suit, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction to review an adoption order made by the Abia State Family Court. The court directed that custody be granted to the Abia State Government pending further determination.

CPN said the prolonged period during which the child and the adopters did not reside together raises concerns about child welfare and process compliance. The organisation described such extended separation as inconsistent with the objectives of adoption, which is to provide continuous care and stability.

The network urged prospective adoptive parents residing abroad to ensure they are prepared to live with the child before and after the adoption process is concluded, rather than relying on temporary caregivers.

“If you adopt a child, you must be willing and ready to provide direct care and live with the child,” CPN stated.

CPN also appealed to all parties and authorities to protect the child from media exposure, social media commentary, and public disputes. It called on the courts and child protection agencies to ensure that all decisions are guided by the principles of safety, stability, dignity, and the best interests of the child.

Speaking beyond the case, Sanni said CPN’s Help Centre received 36 cases in recent months bordering on physical abuse, neglect, trafficking, sexual abuse, and illegal adoption.

The organisation called for stronger enforcement of child protection laws, timely investigation and prosecution of offenders, and increased medical, legal, and psychosocial support for survivors. It also urged government to scale up measures against child abduction and trafficking, and to improve access to education, healthcare, and social support for vulnerable children, including street-connected and Almajiri children.