A Lagos court has remanded a dismissed policeman, Samuel Ukpabio, for his involvement in the disappearance of a newborn, Joseph at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in the Yaba area of the state.

Ukpabio was arraigned on Monday at the Yaba Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and child theft. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

“He (Ukpabio) was charged to court last Monday, remanded in prison and couldn’t meet the bail conditions. The case was adjourned till October 4,” the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin had confirmed.

The prosecution told the court that Ukpabio, while on duty at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, in December 2022, forcefully took the newborn from his mother, Fortune Obhafuoso, and handed him over to a yet-to-be-identified woman from a government ministry in the state.

The disgraced policeman later gave her N15,000 and drove her and her two remaining children out of the police formation and asked her never to return to claim her baby.

Days later, already sensing trouble, Ukpabio again forwarded the sum of N170,000 to the aggrieved mother who wouldn’t stop demanding for her child.

“The last time I saw my newborn was at the SCID, where a policeman, Samuel Ukpabio, connived with people who pretended to help me and stole my baby. All I want is my baby,” the 35-year-old mother cried a few months ago.

The prosecution said that Ukpabio’s actions led to the disappearance of the baby, who has not been seen or heard from since.

The court ordered that Ukpabio be remanded in prison custody pending the commencement of his trial.