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A couple, who could not have children, have been told by the High Court 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.

The local authority had claimed the couple's story was a "charade".

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.

'Desperate and distressed'

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.

At an earlier court hearing the local authority argued that the couple's story was a "charade", and they were "knowing and willing participants" in the scheme.

The court was told that such "baby exchange" frauds were common in Nigeria. Police and immigration officials in the UK are believed to be investigating several incidents.

But Mr Justice Coleridge decided the pair were victims of the "most appalling scam". He described them as "people of the highest calibre and of complete integrity".

He added he was "deeply impressed by their humanity".

On Thursday he awarded the parents custody of the child, ordering the local authority to return her to them within seven days.

The judge also made it clear the case was not an isolated example. He spoke of other cases before the court "on almost identical facts".

He said it was in the public interest for this case to be widely known.

'Unscrupulous people'

The local authority involved - which also cannot be revealed for legal reasons - said they were "disappointed" with the judgement.

"Our concern has been, and continues to be, what is in the best interest of this young child.

"We will now do all we can to ensure the child continues to thrive."

Elsewhere, some charities have expressed concerns that the judgement will have a wider negative effect and will encourage traffickers.

Andy Elvin, chief executive of Children and Families Across Borders, said: "These unscrupulous people will exploit people for vast amounts of money."

He added there is likely to be an upsurge in applications for visas for babies coming from Nigeria.

"Behind every one of these children lies an actual birth mother. She has been coerced, she may have been kidnapped or raped.

"These children are not given up willingly."

Policewoman: I have a question for the atheists here. When one dies, what happens to the person?

Kaput finito. Its the end dear. We came from dust & we will return to dust. Its that simple. You can't remember what was happening on this planet 4 billion years ago simply because you didn't exist then. So likewise when your life cycle ends when u die. Just like the people who died before you, you won't remember or know anything about what is happening anywhere when u cease to exist.

Callotti: Only Abuja?
Women are 'fair game' all over Nigeria o!

You talk like this and you are a woman yourself? Shame on you.

So in other words all our ancestors who we can just call unbelievers are all in hell because no white man came to our african continent in the time of christ to tell us that our saviour was some white jewish dude with a long beard?

Dr.Gboy:
a thousand days here on earth are just 1 day in d eyes of d lord. Do u get it now?

So the last days being roughly a week which equals 7'000 days in the eyes of the lord (that is if one day is equal to 1'000 days according to your calculation )so 7'000 days is roughly 21 years right. Yep I get you now.

If we're living in the last days then the world is supposed to end within the next 6 days if it dose not then it becomes the last weeks because then we'll be assuming the world will end within the next 4 weeks if don't then it becomes the last months assuming it will end within the next 12 months then years then decades & centuries etc. You get my drift. The world isn't going to end. Your world ends when you die.

The top 10 terrorist groups in the world are all linked to Islam. So it can't a peaceful religion

Uyi Iredia: Not quite. Not all atheists support homosexuality. However,, I do think most of them support it

Well I don't because it goes against the laws of nature. The key was designed to enter the ignition.

man must wack O

am sure things like that is happening in nigeria

Back in the days I used to daydream & think about life how God created the planet in 7 days which eventually led to me becoming an atheist

Ihedinobi: You therefore take a condition called existence for granted. How do you explain this condition?

How am i taking a condition you call existence for granted? Why are you putting words into my mouth?

Well what do you expect? That's what happens when you rely to much on ancient Jewish fairytales for answers that deal with reality and life

Ihedinobi: Do you exist?

YES I do exist and so dose my pet dog and pet parrot. Can you please prove that my pet dog and pet parrot both believe in God since they both exist to but don't go to church and don't show any signs of believing in a supreme being?

@wiegraf
I did lock (this senseless) topic but then at the request of logicboy I reopened it.

Left handed people always face bullying

Ok. But I just felt that the main purpose of the topic was to bash atheists.

Senseless topic.

@poster
Closing your eyes clasping your hands kneeling down and talking to yourself is the main reasons why our country is not progressing.

Logicboy03: Erm......had to change back to logicboy.


The name logic has more swag.

https://www.nairaland.com/1071098/logicboy-back-website-coming-soon

Well just remember your banned from the Islamic section until Nov 16th

1supremo: Neither can you prove that you don't. The noose in your position stands in any attempt to prove that you don't believe in any God.

since I don't believe in god or any god for that matter your the one who has to prove me wrong since u don't believe me.

Ihedinobi: Wanna bet?

Go ahead then.

@Post
Well I don't believe in any God & you can't prove that I do.

God did not heal amputees simply because he couldn't do it. I mean if he could (which I don't believe) then why would he refuse to help his followers who genuinely needed his help. He was just an ordinary person like you and me. Just like our so called Pastors today like T.B. Joshua and Pastor Chris who claim to have powers to heal the sick can't heal amputees. If Jesus and our pastors could then why wouldn't they it would elevate their status to that higher than Michael Jackson and people all over the world from different religions and different backgrounds would be running to seek their help

God dose not heal amputees simply because he can't heal amputees all this nonsense about people being punished for a past life is all nonsense. What happened to Hellfire?

the video http://www./video/xu5c7b_uniport-theives_webcam

tobechi20: What d u belive?

I believe in Evolution

quote author=tobechi20]Why?[/quote]Because the dinosaurs neandathal man and fossils can all enter the time frame of evolution whereas the bible or kuran offers no explanation to what existed before their time.

tobechi20: what made u to belive ur belief?

Back in the days when i was 14 discovering my male hormones etc and thinking about life generally well i don't remember how i heard about evolution but i remember thiniking about it on Sundays usually when i was bored to death in our catholic church it also makes a lot more sense to me a (british born and bred nigerian male) to believe that life evolved rather than some white jewish dude magicing life into existence by just saying "let there be light"

tobechi20: How strongly d u belive ur belief? Rate ur self in percentage. E.g 60 %

100% No SHAKING!

tobechi20: can u imagine urself not believin ur belief?

IMPOSSIBLE!

tobechi20: What can make u. stop believing ur belief?

is jesus christ coming soon? will all those muslims stop killing people because of cartoons and films and tell their allah to come down and defend himself? The fact that nigeria is such a corrupt country is more than proof to me that god don;t exist.

Am waiting to hear on CNN FOX News or BBC World Service that jesus has arrived.

West Hams first shot on goal

Come on west ham

West Ham are winning this game

Life itself is a cycle. You & I are part of that cycle.