Foot of newborn baby on warm blanket
A Nigerian woman residing in West Yorkshire has been stripped of custody of a baby girl she brought into the UK, following a damning Family Court ruling that found no biological link to the child and strong indications of illegal acquisition. The case has raised serious concerns about international baby trafficking, particularly from West Africa.
The woman, identified as Susan, first came under scrutiny in July 2024 when she was apprehended at Gatwick Airport, arriving from Nigeria with a newborn, Eleanor.
The woman, identified as Susan, first came under scrutiny in July 2024 when she was apprehended at Gatwick Airport, arriving from Nigeria with a newborn, Eleanor.
A Web of Deceit and Denials
Prior to her trip, Susan had informed her General Practitioner that she was pregnant. However, medical examinations revealed no signs of pregnancy, instead detecting a tumour that she reportedly refused treatment for. Defying medical evidence, Susan maintained her claim of pregnancy, telling the BBC that “my babies are always hidden,” suggesting undetectable pregnancies.
She travelled to Nigeria in June 2024 and later claimed to UK doctors that she had given birth there. Upon her return with baby Eleanor, police and social services swiftly intervened. DNA tests conclusively showed no genetic connection between the child and either Susan or her husband.
Forged Documents and a “Rundown Flat” Delivery
Under questioning, Susan asserted that Eleanor was conceived through IVF using donor egg and sperm before she moved to the UK in 2023. She presented documents and photographs to substantiate her story. However, expert social worker Henrietta Coker quickly identified these as forgeries.
Investigations further exposed the elaborate deception. The supposed IVF clinic had no record of Susan’s treatment. The hospital where she claimed to have given birth was, in reality, a dilapidated flat staffed by teenagers in nurse uniforms. The doctor who allegedly signed the birth letter confirmed that someone had given birth there, but definitively stated it was not Susan. He reportedly told investigators, “Impersonating people is common in this part of the world.”
Suspicious Messages and a Judge’s Verdict
Further suspicion was fuelled by messages found on Susan’s phone. In one exchange with a contact saved as “Mum oft Lagos Baby,” Susan requested “hospital items.” The reply explicitly listed costs for “delivery drugs” and a “hospital bill,” strongly suggesting a financial transaction for the baby.
Judge Recorder William Tyler KC lambasted Susan and her husband, stating they had fabricated the story of Eleanor’s birth, used fraudulent documents, and caused the child “significant emotional and psychological harm.” He ordered Eleanor be placed for adoption and issued a declaration of non-parentage.
Vikki Horspool, a social worker representing the child’s guardian, noted the couple “continued to be dishonest” about Eleanor’s origins. Despite pleas from Susan’s lawyers for the child’s return, the court ruled in favour of permanent adoption, prioritising Eleanor’s welfare.
Echoes of a Larger Problem
Eleanor’s true origins remain unknown, highlighting a disturbing trend. This case mirrors similar incidents involving babies brought into the UK from West Africa. Expert Henrietta Coker revealed to the court that she has worked on approximately a dozen such cases since the pandemic, issuing a stark warning that baby trafficking is “widespread” across the global south.
Concerns about trafficking have led the UK to restrict adoptions from Nigeria since 2021. A Home Office spokesperson reiterated, “Falsely claiming to be the parent of a child to facilitate entry to the UK is illegal.”
