A Nigerian couple has been sentenced to 18 months in prison in the United Kingdom after attempting to illegally bring an orphaned baby girl into the country using falsified documents. According to a BBC report, Raphael Ossai and Oluwakemi Olasanoye were arrested at Manchester Airport after Border Force officers noticed suspicious behavior between the pair and the infant they claimed as their biological child.

Initial checks raised concerns, prompting a deeper investigation. Ossai presented a birth certificate naming Olasanoye as the baby’s mother. However, a second birth certificate—hidden in the couple’s luggage—was later discovered, this time listing Ossai’s British wife as the mother. The discrepancies triggered a complex inquiry into the child’s true identity, which remains unresolved.

DNA testing ultimately confirmed that the child—referred to as "Lucy" by authorities—is not biologically related to Ossai, Olasanoye, or Ossai’s British wife. Court documents revealed that Lucy had been born to a young student in rural Nigeria who, unable to care for her, relinquished custody to an orphanage. Lucy’s father was not identified.

Ossai and his British wife claimed they had sought to adopt a child and had been permitted to foster Lucy. However, they did not have the legal authority to adopt her or to remove her from Nigeria.

During court proceedings, social workers testified that Lucy showed signs of serious neglect during her early months in the UK. She was reportedly undernourished, emotionally withdrawn, and struggled to form secure attachments.

Following their conviction for immigration offenses, Ossai and Olasanoye were sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to be deported upon completing their sentences.

Despite his conviction, Ossai and his British wife petitioned the High Court to be assessed as potential permanent carers for Lucy, arguing that her cultural identity would be better preserved with them rather than with white foster families. The court ultimately rejected their application.

Lucy, who has since been moved between multiple foster homes, will be provided with support and information regarding her Nigerian heritage as she grows up.

Efforts to clarify Lucy’s full background were complicated by a lack of response from the Nigerian High Commission, which failed to engage with repeated requests during the High Court proceedings.