A Nigerian couple has been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom after attempting to bring an orphaned baby girl into the country using falsified documents.
Raphael Ossai and Oluwakemi Olasanoye were apprehended at Manchester Airport when Border Force officials noticed “unusual interactions” between them and the infant they claimed was their daughter, according to a BBC report.
Initial checks aroused suspicion, leading to a more thorough investigation.
Ossai presented a birth certificate that listed Olasanoye as the child’s mother, but officers discovered a second certificate hidden in their luggage, which named Ossai’s British wife as the mother instead.
Authorities initiated a complex inquiry into the baby’s identity, which remains unresolved. DNA tests later confirmed that the child—referred to as “Lucy” by authorities—is not biologically related to Ossai, Olasanoye, or Ossai’s wife.
Investigators determined that Lucy was born in rural Nigeria in September 2022 and was placed in an orphanage shortly after her birth by her young mother, who was a student at the time.
Ossai and Olasanoye admitted guilt to immigration offences. Both received 18-month prison sentences and will be deported after serving their time.
Court proceedings revealed that Ossai and his wife had sought to adopt a child and had obtained permission to foster Lucy.
However, they lacked the legal authority to adopt her or take her out of Nigeria.
Social workers reported indications of “severe neglect” during Lucy’s initial months in the UK, describing her as “emotionally withdrawn, malnourished, and struggling to bond with caregivers.”
Ossai and his wife petitioned the High Court to be considered as Lucy’s carers, arguing that her “cultural identity” could be lost if placed with white foster families.
However, the court rejected their request.
Justice Sir Jonathan Cohen ruled that the couple’s “dishonesty” had caused Lucy “significant emotional harm” and ordered that she be placed for adoption in the UK.
Since her arrival, Lucy has been moved through several foster homes. Plans are in place to ensure she grows up with an understanding of her Nigerian heritage.
The Nigerian High Commission reportedly did not respond to repeated inquiries during court proceedings, leaving gaps in Lucy’s background information.
While the Home Office declined to comment specifically on Ossai and Olasanoye’s deportation status, it emphasized its broader commitment to removing foreign nationals who break UK laws.
