Madonna fails in second Malawi adoption bid

Madonna's attempt to adopt a second Malawian child has been denied by a court ruling.

In a closed-door ruling today (April 3), a judge rejected the adoption bid because Madonna has not been a resident in the southern African nation for long enough.

The singer was not present at the ruling.

Prospective parents should be residents in the country for at least 18 months before adopting, a judge and lawyer in the case said.

However, the rule was waived in 2006, when Madonna was allowed to adopt another Malawian child, David, reports Associated Press.

The current adoption process had drawn criticism from the Human Rights Consultative Committee, who accused Madonna of using her celebrity to fast-track the procedure, as well as arguing that the three year-old orphan, called Chifundo James, can still be cared for in Malawi by her blood relatives.