‘Paternity Fraud More Rampant Than We Think’, Says Lawyer Inibehe Effiong

Human rights lawyer and activist, Inibehe Effiong, has raised concerns over the growing cases of paternity fraud in Nigeria, describing it as a disturbing trend that is more widespread than many realise.

Effiong, who shared his experience on Facebook on Wednesday, disclosed that he had handled two cases of paternity fraud and marital infidelity within the past week.

According to him, one of the paternity fraud cases came up in open court on Tuesday, where his client broke down in tears while testifying about the betrayal.

“Watching our client break down in tears while leading him to testify about the paternity fraud committed by his wife had a profound effect on me,” Effiong wrote.

He revealed that despite the emotional ordeal, the woman involved showed no sign of remorse.

“The woman is not remorseful, she blames our client for the paternity fraud she committed,” he added.

Effiong also recalled another similar case he handled earlier in the week, in which the victim also broke down in tears upon discovering the truth about his child’s paternity.

“The victim in the first case that I attended to this week also broke down tearfully a few days ago. Thank God for the availability of DNA tests. Life can be simpler,” he wrote.

The lawyer, who said he had represented both men and women in matrimonial cases, noted that his experience gives him a balanced perspective on the issue.

“As someone who has represented both men and women in matrimonial cases, I can speak about this issue with a level of understanding,” he stated.

Effiong concluded by warning that paternity fraud “seems to be more rampant than we think,” urging greater awareness and honesty in relationships.