A Nigerian couple, Raphael Ossai and Oluwakemi Olasanoye, has been sentenced to prison in the United Kingdom after attempting to illegally bring an orphaned baby girl into the country using falsified documents.
The pair were arrested at Manchester Airport after Border Force officers observed suspicious behavior between them and the infant they claimed was their biological child. Initial checks uncovered inconsistencies, leading to a deeper investigation.
According to a BBC report, Ossai presented a birth certificate naming Olasanoye as the child's mother. However, authorities later found a second birth certificate hidden in the couple’s luggage, which listed Ossai’s British wife as the child’s mother. DNA testing subsequently confirmed that the child—nicknamed Lucy by authorities—had no biological relation to either Ossai, Olasanoye, or Ossai’s British wife.
Investigations revealed that Lucy was born in rural Nigeria in September 2022 and was placed into an orphanage shortly after birth by a young student mother. Although Ossai and his wife had been granted permission to foster the child, they had no legal right to adopt or remove her from Nigeria.
Ossai and Olasanoye pleaded guilty to immigration offenses and were each sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, after which they will be deported.
During the court proceedings, social workers described how Lucy suffered signs of serious neglect during her early months in the UK. Reports highlighted that she was emotionally withdrawn, undernourished, and struggled to form secure emotional attachments.
Despite Ossai and his wife’s plea to the High Court to be assessed as Lucy’s carers—citing concerns about her cultural identity if placed with white foster families—the court rejected their application. Justice Sir Jonathan Cohen ruled that the couple's deception and unlawful actions had caused Lucy "very significant emotional harm," ordering that she be placed for adoption within the UK.
Lucy, who has been moved between multiple foster homes since her arrival, will now be raised with careful consideration given to her cultural heritage.
It was also reported that the Nigerian High Commission failed to respond to multiple requests for assistance during the court process, leaving gaps in the full understanding of Lucy’s background.
The Home Office declined to comment directly on the individuals' deportation status but reaffirmed its commitment to removing foreign nationals who violate British laws.
