Lucy, an infant born in rural Nigeria in September 2022, ignited a complex emotional and legal drama. Her case has left investigators and foster families stumped. Orphaned at mere three days old, Lucy’s biological mother decided to give her up and left her in an orphanage. On or about June 20, 2023, Ossai and Olasanoye knowingly transported her unlawfully to the United Kingdom. This unspeakable crime transformed her life forever.
Upon reaching the UK, Lucy was placed in Manchester’s care system, where she has lived for close to two years. Since her inception, she has relocated to at least her third new home. Throughout this period, she has been bounced from one temporary foster parent to another. The unanswered questions about Lucy’s identity and paternity led to a High Court inquiry to establish her fate.
Ossai, who initially presented himself as Lucy’s father, and Olasanoye were hit with severe charges once authorities found discrepancies in their tale. DNA tests soon confirmed that Lucy was not biologically related to either of them. Later, both Ossai and Olasanoye entered guilty pleas to immigration offenses. The judge ordered each man to serve 18 months in prison, after which they will be deported from the United Kingdom.
Lucy’s case is currently under scrutiny at High Court in Manchester. Their goal is to figure out who she is, who she is meant to be, and confirm her future. Judges Sir Jonathan Cohen, who presided over the hearings, and Mr Justice Holroyde expressed anxiety about Lucy’s welfare. He accepted that her unlawful entry into the UK was justifiable and more importantly had serious mitigating factors. He cautioned that her separation from her caregivers would definitively have permanent impacts on her.
“I am sure that her being brought into this country illegally and thus separated from her carers is bound to be a significant factor,” – Judge Sir Jonathan Cohen
As the court weighs Lucy’s future, her case has sparked tremendous concern and public interest. They’ve chosen to rehome her in the UK and rename her to reflect her new beginning. The judge placed special weight on Lucy’s best future opportunities.
“She needs to have the best opportunities going forward in the world,” – Judge Sir Jonathan Cohen
The emotional ramifications of Lucy’s experience go far beyond her day-to-day care. As days turned into weeks, she rapidly grew to love the child. She described Lucy as “like that precious gift that I desired so much,” indicating her desire to fully embrace Lucy as part of their family.
“We see her as our daughter,” – Ossai and his British wife
Ossai had always had a crush on Lucy, though he’d never come to the UK prior to this attack. He’d met his British wife in Kenya in 2017, and married her back in Nigeria. Their relationship further complicates the narrative and brings about the question of legality in regard to what Ossai did to Lucy.
Social workers who personally experienced Lucy’s long and winding road saw the emotional wear and tear that her journey from initial call to adoption has led to for her. One social worker remarked, “She was so lost, and not really present… she just felt so alone yet she was surrounded by people.” This is just one example of how the traumatic effects of her separation from her biological mother and other caregivers during such critical years are being brought to light.
Legal experts have emphasized that there may still be a way for Lucy to gain British citizenship. This only works if she completes formal adoption proceedings in the UK. This possible result would make her predicament all the more dire. It would give her that stability, security, and predictability she needs, but in a new location.
The Home Office has made it very clear that it is determined that foreign criminals should be removed from the UK quickly. A spokesperson stated, “Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that we will do everything to make sure they are not free to roam Britain’s streets, including removing them from the UK at the earliest possible opportunity.” They pointed out that at the same time as our last election, there’s been a greater uptick in the number of foreign criminals being deported.
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