"We are very happy with what the judge has ruled," Alan Chinula told
reporters outside the courthouse in Malawi's capital Lilongwe.
The 49-year-old singer began adoption proceedings for David Banda back in October 2006.
She was granted a temporary custody order after choosing David from an
orphanage when he was 13 months old.
'Long judgement'
"It is a positive and beautiful judgment that will have an impact on Malawi's adoption laws," Chinula said.
"Finally the court has granted Madonna full adoption rights of the boy - it's a long judgement but I am quite happy with it."
Madonna was not in court for the ruling.
David was put in the orphanage by his father, Yohane, after his mother died of an Aids-related illness when he was a month old.
His father said he believed he could not care for him alone, and
that placing him in an orphanage was the best way to ensure his
survival.
The adoption has been controversial, with critics accusing the
government of skirting laws that ban non-residents from adopting
children in Malawi, which has been badly hit by an Aids epidemic that
has left more than 1 million orphans.
Chinula said he hoped the "well-researched judgement" would help bring clarity in similar cases in the future.
Madonna has two other children, an 11-year-old daughter Lourdes
with her former personal fitness trainer Carlos Leon, and a
seven-year-old son Rocco with Guy Ritchie. |
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