How border officials caught Nigerian couple 'smuggling' baby into UK

Officers of the UK Border Force, in June 2023, intercepted a Nigerian couple who attempted to bring in a baby that was not biologically theirs.

According to a BBC report, the officials became suspicious after they noticed the couple “behaving oddly” in their interaction with the baby at the Manchester airport.

Raphael Ossai, who claimed to be the girl’s father, produced a birth certificate for the baby, which showed Oluwakemi Olasanoye, his travelling companion, as the mother.

However, officials said they found a second birth certificate, hidden in the lining of the couple’s luggage. It named another woman, Ossai’s British wife, as the mother of the baby.

Border Force investigation revealed that Lucy (not real name) was born in a Nigerian rural community in September 2022, and was given to an orphanage by her young mother when she was three days old.

COURT PROCEEDINGS

Ossai and Olasanoye were accused of illegally taking the baby to the UK from Lagos, Nigeria.

DNA tests presented to the court proved that Lucy was not related to either Ossai or his travelling companion.

Ossai later told the court that he and his British wife had been looking for a child to adopt, and that he took custody of Lucy when she was a baby.

The court found that the couple had legal permission to foster Lucy but not to adopt her or take her out of Nigeria.

Ossai and Olasanoye pleaded guilty to immigration offences and were sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Ossai and his British wife subsequently asked the court to allow them to care for Lucy — a request the court refused.

He said Lucy was like a daughter to him, arguing that the English court had no power to take her away since Nigerian authorities had approved him as her foster parent.

Ossai’s British wife reportedly said Lucy “is like that precious gift that I desired so much”.

However, Jonathan Cohen, the high court judge, said their lies and actions, especially moving Lucy from Nigeria, had “inevitably caused her very significant emotional harm”.

WHAT NEXT FOR LUCY?

According to the report, Lucy is presently in her third foster home since her arrival in the UK. In April, a judge ordered that she be placed for adoption and that her name be legally changed.

The judge was quoted as saying that Lucy “needs to have the best opportunities going forward in the world,” adding that such prospects could “only be achieved through placement with an alternative family”.

Lucy’s case has seen limited involvement from the Nigerian High Commission, despite repeated requests for engagement from the high court, the report added.

The Nigerian High Commission was also accused of ignoring requests to comment on the report.