NewStats: 3,262,948 , 8,178,613 topics. Date: Wednesday, 04 June 2025 at 07:49 AM 151p2f

by Claire Mom


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.

https://www.thecable.ng/how-border-officials-caught-nigerian-couple-smuggling-baby-into-uk/

dre11:


https://www.thecable.ng/how-border-officials-caught-nigerian-couple-smuggling-baby-into-uk/

hmmm

Matter get as e be.

Nigerians and trouble finding in other countries!

The question remains, Why not adopt a child legally??

That foster arrangement is so un-African

the child get strong head

the child get strong head..

Let them send the baby back and continue their journey.

Heartbreaking.
Why take the child from them after sentencing them?
Not fair at all.
None can care better for the child than these people that risked their all to bring her abroad

And the child will keep going from one foster home to the other. Sad

Na dem

Many Nigerians have this penchant to game the system, to by laid down regulations. It starts in childhood and we get hailed for been smart.

Be careful this world algorithms run on "good"


Anything you are be good. otherwise you may find out the hard way the good guys are the real bad guys.

Naija...always in the foreign news for weird reasons

eazzzy1:
Many Nigerians have this penchant to game the system, to by laid down regulations. It starts in childhood and we get hailed for been smart.

Blame politicians. Our president is also guilty of this. Or do you know his primary or secondary school, actual age, past life? There's a proverb that says when the head is bad....you can complete the rest.

If dem no allow una enter UK 2mrw.... You'll start blaming leaders again

dre11:


https://www.thecable.ng/how-border-officials-caught-nigerian-couple-smuggling-baby-into-uk/

Not again

Iseoluwani:
the child get strong head..

so na to 💀 MINE ⛏️ am be the next plan right?

They should have done the right thing since they were legally given the child to care for. Why tried to game the system to claim what doesn't belong to you? I feel for them. Pray for those all TTC. It is never an easy journey.

SeeWahala:
so na to 💀 MINE ⛏️ am be the next plan right?

ur drug remain one

.....they would have just return the baby girl back to them since she knew them as parents. UK government can be so confusing too sha...

To be a foster parent is different from being an adopted parent

Since they have legal papers indicating that they are the foster parents, it doesn't not permit them to take the child out of the country

But if they already have a legal document indicating adoption, that means they are now the parents of the child and can take the child along with them

So know the difference, the white man already applied the law base on the difference

They the white men don't attach sentiments in their judgment

Iseoluwani:


ur drug remain one

Tablet, capsule or syrup?

Make them leave the couple alone jaree. In a much that they legally adopt from Nigeria.
The pains of childlessness at times can make take some unnecessary actions.
U.k authorities may just make sure them monitor the child with them as long that they live in u.k.

Good

dre11:


https://www.thecable.ng/how-border-officials-caught-nigerian-couple-smuggling-baby-into-uk/

Criminal minds

Nigerians feel thwy are the smartest not knowing that dem no reach.

Do things the right way and stop faking. We are gradually becoming the fakers capital of the world. How sad!

Why should the Nigerian High commission get involved and prévent the child from getting a better Life in the UK? Involment could only involve the child being possibly returned to uncertainty in Nigerian ……