British Couple Arrested For Trying To Smuggle Nigerian Child - CHANNELS

A couple from Oxford have been convicted of attempting pass off a Nigerian baby as their own so they could bring it back to the UK, following a Joint Border Force and Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) investigation a statement by Press Secretary of the British High Commission, Abuja, Rob Fitzpatrick said.

Gladys Effa-Heap and Simon Heap both of Wayneflete Road in Headington flew out to Nigeria in July 2010. Simon Heap is a 47-year-old expert on Nigeria who works with companies trying to forge international trade links and his partner is a nurse.

They later went to the British High Commission in Lagos where they applied for a British passport for the baby girl, claiming Mrs Effa-Heap had given birth within days of them arriving in Nigeria.

However, staff became suspicious and DNA tests later confirmed that neither adult was related to the child. A birth certificate they had presented was also found to be fraudulent.  They flew home without the baby.

Following an investigation, they were arrested and charged with facilitating a breach of immigration law.During a hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday 16 April the couple pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and 250 hours of community service.

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