Katie Price ‘won’t be able to adopt Nigerian orphan because she’s broke, has criminal charges and mental health issues’ say African officials

KATIE Price’s chances of adopting a Nigerian child are "impossible" due to her dire financial troubles, mental health problems and recent brushes with the law, leading Nigerian family lawyers and adoption agencies have warned.

The mum-of-five, 40, revealed her hopes of adopting a child from the African country on This Morning earlier this week - after meeting a Nigerian orphanage worker in a nail salon.

But the reality TV star will have a hard time making her dream a reality as there are a number of strict stipulations that could thwart her plans.

Katie was recently fined £1,100 by a magistrates court for driving while disqualified and without insurance, which is a criminal offence in the UK.

She’s also on trial next month after being charged with drink driving and crashing her Pink Range Rover, which she denies.

In Nigeria, only the state of Lagos allows international adoptions, which they’ve been doing since 2016, mostly to US citizens, but it’s a complicated and rigorous procedure.

A spokesman for one of the country’s top family law specialists, Resolution Law Firm, based in Lagos, said: "International adoption is very difficult in Nigeria, they only usually allow it with people from Nigerian descent.

"It’s impossible if she has a criminal record or is currently being charged.

"It doesn’t matter that she’s had many husbands, but the criminal issues, then you won’t be able to adopt."

Most countries have signed up to the 1993 Hague Convention treaty on inter-country adoption to protect the welfare of a child, but Nigeria has its own set of rules.

Katie would pass the test that she’s over 35, which single people have to be, but she’d only be allowed to adopt a child of the same sex as her.

But her other issues would mean she’d fail the test such as her criminal convictions and recent mental health problems.

Another factor is whether she could financially afford to raise a child.

One of the only international agents working in the country is Nightlight, a Christian adoption program, which states that adoptions cost between £30-40,000, around the norm for Nigeria.

Katie - who was nearly declared bankrupt in December - is now going through an Individual Voluntary Arrangement with her creditors.

Bank statements have to be shown and there’s a "home study" visit from social workers, who will look at the sort of "homestead" she’d be providing for the child, which could be problematic for Katie, whose West Sussex property has been dubbed "messy mansion".

Nightlight program manager Jordyn Giorgi explained: "You [the adoption agency] have to do a dossier to send to Nigeria - birth certificate, bank statements, marriage certificates, family photos of your home, and also have to get a home study, where a social worker will go to the home."

The information is then sent to Nigeria where officials will assess whether Katie is financially fit to look after another child.

Fingerprints are taken and a background check is also carried out during a home study.

Jordyn added: "Criminal charges and records is something they take very seriously."

"Any country that a family wants to adopt from, they look at it as: 'Why would we give you our child?'

"I imagine any sort of background like that, they’d find themselves in a position where they’re not able to adopt."

Katie would also have to be in the country for a minimum of 12 weeks for the "bonding period" and the court hearing, but, even if she got through all those issues, there are further hurdles.

She’s currently going through a divorce and is a single mum to five children, with them recently living with their fathers, Peter Andre and Kieran Hayler, while she had a stint in The Priory.

She was also caught on camera rapping about cocaine on a hen party in Majorca last summer.

On Nightlife’s website, it states: "Please consult with Nightlight regarding any sensitive issues that may apply to you, such as a divorce, a mental health issue, or a criminal history."

Jordyn adds: "If they have any sort of mental illness, currently taking any medication for, or they’re in counselling at the time, India and Nigeria especially have their antenna up for that sort of thing, they look at all of that with mental health.

"For both programs, I always ask: 'Do you have any major medical concerns? Or are there any major medications you’re taking?'

"I know a family who had five children and wanted to adopt from Nigeria, we first asked the orphanage director if they are okay to place the child with such a family.

"We’ve had directors who say they’re not comfortable with it, if they’ve already got five children."

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