Alleged abortion: NYSC official in court over corps member’s death

Alleged abortion: NYSC official in court over corps member’s death

By Jeffrey Agbo

Ogun State Police Command has arraigned an official of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Abass Olalekan, before Magistrate A. K Araba of the Magistrate Court at Isabo, Abeokuta, on two counts of conspiracy and unlawful procurement of abortion for Victoria Ariyo, a corps member who died last Tuesday, allegedly due to complications from abortion procedures.

Mr Olalekan was alleged to have been in a sexual relationship with Ariyo.

The charge reads, “That you Abbas Olalekan 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 felony to wit abortion and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State 2006.

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

Olalekan pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defendant’s counsel, Elizabeth Adelabu, filed for bail on behalf of the accused.

Araba granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, saying that one of the sureties must be a blood relative, while the other must be gainfully employed.

The magistrate added that the sureties must provide a utility bill, a deposition to an affidavit of means, submit six passport photographs and provide evidence of the 2026 tax payment to the Ogun Government.

She ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending perfection of the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned until April 14 for further hearing.

Barely a month ago, another female corps member, Adeleye Mary, died in mysterious circumstances.

Adeleye, who was also serving in the same Abeokuta South LG as Ariyo, was said to have been working at a television station in the state capital before her sudden death.

Both deceased corps members were said to be friends.