A Nigerian woman, known as Susan, was arrested at Gatwick Airport after arriving from Nigeria with a very young baby girl, Eleanor. Susan had been living in West Yorkshire with her husband and children since June 2023 and had told her GP she was pregnant before leaving for Africa, which was later found to be untrue. Upon her return to the UK, Susan was stopped and arrested by Sussex Police on suspicion of trafficking.
Susan claimed she had given birth to Eleanor in Nigeria and provided a letter from a Nigerian hospital and documents from another clinic about alleged IVF treatment. However, DNA tests showed no genetic link between Susan or her husband and the baby. Susan insisted she had had IVF treatment with a donor egg and sperm, but investigations revealed the documents were forged.
Henrietta Coker, a social worker with nearly 30 years of experience, was sent to investigate by the Family Court in Leeds. She visited the medical centre where Susan claimed to have had IVF treatment and found no record of such treatment. Coker also visited the place where Susan said she gave birth, a shabby three-bedroom flat, where she met teenage girls in nurses’ uniforms. The doctor who wrote the birth letter confirmed someone had given birth but stated it wasn’t Susan, suggesting she might have “bought the baby”.
The court discovered messages on Susan’s phone, including one that read, “Good afternoon ma, I have not seen the hospital items,” to which “Mum Oft Lagos Baby” responded, “Delivery drug is 3.4 m” and “Hospital bill 170k,” equivalent to approximately £1,700 and £85. The judge found these messages to be evidence of a deal to purchase a baby. Susan’s attempts to explain the messages were deemed “difficult to follow and impossible to accept”.
Recorder William Tyler KC found Susan had staged a scene to falsely claim she gave birth to Eleanor in Nigeria and that she and her husband had caused the little girl “significant emotional and psychological harm.” The judge ordered Eleanor to be placed for adoption and made a “declaration of non parentage.” The baby is currently settled with her foster carer, receiving medical treatment and participating in community activities.
Ms. Coker believes baby trafficking is commonplace, with “money exchanged for children on a large scale” across the global south. She thinks more people in Britain should be aware of this activity, which might be tackled through DNA testing of newborn babies and purported parents. However, she doubts the British government can do much to stop it, as “the issues start in countries where the children are born.” Patricia Durr, CEO of ECPAT, emphasizes the need to prevent such crimes, which deny children their right to identity.
A government spokesperson stated that falsely claiming to be a parent to facilitate entry to the UK is illegal and those found doing so will face the full force of the law. Border Force is committed to protecting individuals crossing the border and will take action to safeguard those at risk.