A couple, who could not have children, have been told by the High Court in United Kingdom they can keep a baby born in Nigeria, despite tests showing they were not the child’s biological parents.
The mother said she was tricked by a doctor into believing she had given birth while sedated, after she went to Nigeria for fertility treatment.
But the judge ruled they were victims of an “appalling scam.”
The presiding judge Mr. Justice Coleridge added the case was “extraordinary, bizarre and worrying.”
Charities meanwhile have raised concerns about the judgement, warning it may encourage trafficking.
At the High Court on Thursday, Mr. Justice Coleridge ruled that the pair, who he described as people of the “highest calibre”, should be given custody of the girl who is nearly two years old.
The couple – who live in London but cannot be named for legal reasons – failed to conceive a child despite undergoing IVF treatment in the UK.
They were said to be “desperate and distressed”.
In 2010, the couple travelled to Nigeria where the woman received fertility treatment at a private clinic.
She told the court that when she returned to the clinic months later she was sedated. When she regained consciousness she was handed a baby and told she had given birth.
On her return to London, a GP raised concerns. The child was taken into care and a DNA test proved the child was not related to the couple.
They then launched legal proceedings to get custody.
The court was told that such “baby exchange” frauds were common in Nigeria. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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How convenient. She returned to the clinic months later and was sedated, when she woke up the Doc handed her a child making her believe she just delivered a baby... Story story. Was she pregnant when she came in? We didn't get to hear that part. That judge that believed they were scammed must be some incompetent judge. Them arrange the child and the judge just aided them in child trafficking.
ReplyDeleteI think the agency in charge of human trafficking would take this case on,this is cleary a stolen/bought child from Nigeria.you don't get pregnant and give birth just like that
ReplyDeleteThat's a pooly fabricated story from the couple, I have concerns about the actual parents of the child back home in Nigeria and if they have any idea where their daughter is. On the other hand it could just be a highly elaborate scam and the child may have been sold to the couple mentioned in the article. I guess we'll never know the real story. One can only hope that the child has a good quality of life and is shown love by her "adopted parent".
ReplyDeleteTrust a UK court to believe any story cooked up to drag the name of Nigeria in the mud. How is it possible that a person will give birth to a baby without experiencing pregnacy symptoms? You just walk into a hospital, they sedate you for 30mins and you wake up to find a baby...utter bullsh*t.
ReplyDeletewow, no comment on this...
ReplyDeleteActually, the woman did say she experienced pregnancy symptoms. When the case was first reported, she said she was given some stuff to drink after which she started showing signs of pregancy like morning sickness, growing belly. All the tests and everything she did were at the hospital. U guys are talking as if you don't know what happens in naija. Scammers do and undo. Like Anony 20.22 said, the real concern is for the parents of the child. Hopefully, the mother would have given her up willingly if the pregnancy was unplanned ( considering the stigma attached to "unwanted" pregnancies in unmarried mothers)
ReplyDelete@Stynex just as anonymous 9:17 said,if u have followed this case from being, there was a part of "her being pregnant". We all just have to be careful.
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ReplyDeleteThe judge simply showed the couple pity. LETS LEAVE THEM A LONE
Nowadays young ladies and even married women willingly sell their children off to the highest bidder all because of poverty. It is happening in the country and is now seen to be normal for someone to sell her new born child for as much as a million naira.
ReplyDeletePeople even go to the extent of kidnapping young girls and getting them pregnant only to sell off the children to childless couples looking for babies.
Leave them alone for what? They stole someone's baby and it should be investigated. If the mother owns up that sge sold the kid, then it is her buz. However, someone may be out there crying bcos they lied her kid was dead or because her baby is missing
ReplyDeleteThe only part of the story i dont like most is (The court was told that such “baby exchange” frauds were common in Nigeria). The judge showed compassion knowing that their dire need could become an incriminating factor since even UK fertility specialists were unable to treat them of their barreness. Just dont drag Nigeria's name to the mud next time you wanna have a second child.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this baby was stolen or sold. Or if these parents were deceived or are lying.
ReplyDeleteHowever, fake pregnancies from unethical clinics are real. My own secretary fell for such a trick 2 years ago at a clinic in Ebute Metta. Having been married for over 4 years without issue she went to them for IVF and then claimed she was pregnant (she was not.) Being her boss, I was being asked to contribute to the cost.
On investigation, this clinic has scammed many women and funnily enough its doors remain open.
From every indication it is a clear fact that the lady in question planned it. How would she come back to Nigeria for a fertility test, when you can get it overseas but instead she chooses the Nigeria way of adopting under false pretense an a baby. truly there need to investigate on this and get to the root of it, so that people won't follow suit on this kind of child trafficking all in the name of poverty to better peoples lives.
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