Massachusetts Man Owes Support for In Vitro Fertilization Babies Despite Signed Deal

BOSTON (CNN/WCVB) - A Massachusetts appeals court ruled Tuesday that Chukwudera Okoli must pay child support for twin girls, even though he and his wife had split before the babies were born by in vitro fertilization.

"They can order anything I have to be given to them but that doesn't make me their father," said Okoli.

Okoli expressed disappointment over a Massachusetts appeals court ruling ordering him to pay child support to twins conceived through in vitro fertilization with donated sperm and eggs.

The twins were born in 2003 to his then wife, Blessing Okoli, but he claims that his ex-wife had filed for divorce when she began the process of in-vitro fertilization, so in his mind, they were not married.

"I disagree because I never saw any divorce that was valid at a time that these children were conceived," said Collins Akukwe, Okoli's ex-wife's attorney.

Akukwe also disagrees with Okoli's claims that he agreed to the IVF treatments under duress.

"With a threat to deport me if I didn't sign because she signed for a green card for me and the green card application was still pending."

His ex-wife's attorney disputes the claim, stating that Okoli already had a green card and was never under treat of deportation.

In its ruling the court declared the husband failed to outline the legal standard for duress, and in the statement of fact it is undisputed that the Okoli's were married and that they signed laboratory consent forms voluntarily consenting to IVF treatments and acknowledging natural parentage to any resulting child or children.

"She went for child support because the children need support. They need help."

The court ruled that Okoli was responsible for support because his actions resulted in the creation of a child.

Copyright 2012 CNN/WCVB. All rights reserved.