A staff member of the National Youth Service Corps, Abbas Olalekan, has been brought before a magistrate court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, over allegations of conspiracy and an attempt to procure an abortion that reportedly resulted in the death of a corps member, Victoria Ariyo.
Ariyo was said to have died on Tuesday after developing complications linked to a suspected abortion procedure. She was later buried at Kobape Cemetery along the Kobape-Sagamu road in Abeokuta.
The defendant, who lives in the Mosafueto area of Oke-Ata, is facing charges of conspiracy and unlawful attempt to terminate a pregnancy by supplying drugs, an act prosecutors say led to the young woman’s death.
During proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court that the alleged offence occurred between January and March in the Ikereku area of Laderin, Abeokuta. He claimed the defendant conspired with others who are currently at large to carry out the act.
According to the prosecutor, Olalekan had a relationship with the deceased, which resulted in pregnancy, and he allegedly attempted to end it by providing abortion drugs.
He stated that the substances administered were believed to have caused complications that led to her death, adding that the offences violate Sections 516 and 230 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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His counsel, Bunmi Adelabu, urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, referencing Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution. He argued that the charge did not directly establish his client’s responsibility for the death.
In her ruling, Magistrate A.K. Araba granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like amount. She specified that one surety must be a relative, while the other must be gainfully employed.
The court also directed that the sureties provide a utility bill, submit an affidavit of means, present six passport photographs, and show evidence of tax payment to the Ogun State Government for 2026.
Pending the fulfilment of these conditions, the defendant was ordered to be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre.
The case has been adjourned until April 14 for further hearing.