A Nigerian woman, identified in court documents as “Susan,” has been arrested at Gatwick Airport after allegedly attempting to smuggle a baby into the United Kingdom under the guise of a false pregnancy and forged birth record.
Susan, who had been residing in West Yorkshire since mid-2023, claimed to have traveled to Nigeria in June 2024 to give birth. Upon her return, she presented a newborn girl, referred to as “Eleanor,” as her biological child. However, medical records in the UK had previously shown no signs of pregnancy—instead revealing a tumor she refused to treat.
DNA tests conducted upon her arrival confirmed that neither Susan nor her husband had any biological connection to the child. Despite requesting a second test and claiming the child was conceived via IVF using donor egg and sperm, further investigation revealed inconsistencies in her story.
Susan submitted documents from Nigerian medical facilities to support her claims, including a birth certificate and IVF treatment records. However, a court-appointed social worker, Henrietta Coker, found these documents to be forged. Her investigation in Nigeria uncovered that the alleged birth facility was a rundown apartment staffed by unqualified teenagers, and the IVF clinic had no record of Susan’s treatment.
Messages retrieved from Susan’s phone revealed communications with a contact saved as “Mum oft Lagos Baby,” discussing costs for “delivery drugs” and “hospital bills,” which authorities interpreted as evidence of a baby purchase arrangement.
The British Family Court ruled that Susan and her husband had fabricated the child’s origin, causing Eleanor “significant emotional and psychological harm.” The judge issued a declaration of non-parentage and ordered that Eleanor be placed for adoption. She will receive British citizenship and a new identity.
This case has reignited concerns over child trafficking and illegal adoption practices linked to so-called “baby factories” in Nigeria. Experts warn that such schemes exploit vulnerable women and children, and call for stronger international safeguards.
“Falsely claiming to be the parent of a child to facilitate entry to the UK is illegal. Border Force officers are trained to identify and act on suspicious cases to protect vulnerable individuals,” said a spokesperson from the Home Office.