Court remands Ogun NYSC official over corps member’s death

An Ogun State Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Monday ordered the remand of Abass Olalekan, an official of the National Youth Service Corps, at the Oba Correctional Centre, Abeokuta, for 60 days over his alleged involvement in an unlawful abortion that allegedly led to the death of a 23-year-old corps member serving in the state, Victoria Ariyo, pending legal advice from the state Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Magistrate O.T. Odubanjo gave the remand order on Monday, following an ex parte motion filed by the police prosecuting counsel, Solomon Babalola, on the amended charges against Olalekan.

The NYSC official is alleged to be responsible for the pregnancy of the corps member, which was unlawfully terminated and allegedly led to her death.

Olalekan was subsequently arrested and arraigned last Monday before Magistrate A.K. Araba on a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempt to procure abortion, but he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N500,000, among other conditions.

However, there was a twist in the case on Monday following Olalekan’s re-arraignment on amended charges, including murder.

Olalekan now stands trial on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, supply of drugs for unlawful abortion, and murder.

The charge sheet reads, “That you, Abass Olalekan ‘M’, and others at large, between January and March 2026, at Ikereku area, Laderin, Abeokuta, in the Abeokuta Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: abortion, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

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“That you, Abass Olalekan ‘M’, and others now at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did unlawfully attempt to procure abortion by supplying drugs to Ariyo Victoria Olapeju ‘F’, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 230 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Abass Olalekan ‘M’, and others at large, between January and March 2026, at Ikereku area, Laderin, Abeokuta, in the Abeokuta Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: murder, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Abass Olalekan ‘M’, and others at large, between January and March 2026, at Ikereku area, Laderin, Abeokuta, in the Abeokuta Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Ariyo Victoria Olapeju ‘F’, aged 23 years, by giving her drugs for abortion, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2006.”

The police counsel, Solomon Babalola, urged the court to remand the defendant for 60 days in the first instance at the Oba Correctional Centre, pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Magistrate O.T. Odubanjo granted the application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Oba Correctional Centre, pending legal advice from the State DPP.

The case was adjourned until June 1 for continuation.