In June 2023, UK Border Force officers at Manchester Airport detained a Nigerian couple, Raphael Ossai and Oluwakemi Olasanoye, after observing suspicious behavior with a baby girl they claimed as their own. Ossai presented a birth certificate listing Olasanoye as the mother. However, a second birth certificate found hidden in their luggage named Ossai’s British wife as the mother.
Investigations revealed that the child, referred to as Lucy, was born in a Nigerian rural community in September 2022 and placed in an orphanage shortly after birth. DNA tests confirmed that neither Ossai nor Olasanoye were biologically related to her. …....CONTINUE READING
The court determined that while Ossai had legal permission to foster Lucy, he lacked authorization to adopt her or remove her from Nigeria. Both Ossai and Olasanoye pleaded guilty to immigration offences and received 18-month prison sentences.
Subsequently, Ossai and his British wife requested custody of Lucy, claiming she was like a daughter to them. The court denied the request, citing the couple’s deceptive actions and the emotional harm caused to the child.
As of April 2025, Lucy has been placed in her third foster home in the UK. A judge ordered her to be put up for adoption and for her name to be legally changed, aiming to provide her with the best opportunities moving forward.
The case has highlighted concerns over child trafficking and the importance of adhering to international adoption laws.
