London | In a shocking case of child trafficking, a Nigerian woman has been found guilty of smuggling a baby girl into the United Kingdom by fabricating a false birth story, claiming the child was her own through IVF treatment.
The woman, identified as “Susan” for legal reasons, told UK authorities she had given birth in Nigeria via IVF. However, a family court ruled that the story was a complete fabrication aimed at illegally bringing the child, referred to as “Eleanor” in court documents, into the country.
According to the judgment by Recorder William Tyler KC, Susan presented a fake hospital letter claiming she had delivered the baby in a Lagos clinic. She also showed images and documents which were later found to be forged. A social worker assigned to the case uncovered inconsistencies and confirmed that DNA tests proved neither Susan nor her husband were biologically related to the child.
The deception began in June 2024 when Susan returned to the UK from Nigeria with the newborn. She approached her local GP, claiming she had been pregnant before her trip and had delivered the baby abroad. However, medical records from Nigeria revealed she had been treated for a tumour during the time she claimed to be pregnant.
In court, Susan maintained her innocence, saying she had conceived through IVF and had delivered the child at a hospital in Lagos. But investigations by British authorities, including intercepted messages referring to her as “Mum of Lagos Baby,” exposed a larger scheme potentially linked to child trafficking networks.
The court ruled that Susan had “deliberately and dishonestly distorted the child’s identity” and had caused long-term harm to the infant’s welfare. As a result, the child will be placed for adoption in the UK with a new identity and full British citizenship. Her biological origins remain unknown.
This case highlights growing concerns about trafficking involving so-called “baby factories” in Nigeria, where women are coerced or tricked into giving up their children. Reports suggest that over 200 such facilities have been shut down in recent years.
The ruling has sparked renewed calls for tighter international oversight of cross-border child custody claims and IVF-related documentation.
