Ogun AG clarifies legal status of corps member’s death case

The Ogun State Government has dismissed claims circulating online about the strength of evidence in the case against Abass Olalekan, the Abeokuta South Local Government Inspector with the National Youth Service Corps who standing trial over the death of a corps member, Victoria Ariyo.

Ariyo reportedly died last week, Tuesday, allegedly due to complications arising from an abortion.

Olalekan, who is alleged to have been in a romantic relationship with the deceased, was believed to have had a hand in the abortion and was arraigned on Monday before Magistrate Court 1 in Isabo, Abeokuta, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempt to procure unlawful abortion

Magistrate Araba, who presided over the case, 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 among other conditions

The government however on Tuesday, in a statement made by the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr Sina Ogungbade, SAN, said that the court decision to grant the suspect bail has been widely misinterpreted in public commentary.

Ogungbade clarified that the bail granted to the defendant was based solely on the bailable nature of the charges and does not reflect the strength or quality of the evidence.

The Attorney-General’s office also confirmed that it has taken over the prosecution of the case after receiving the case file from the State Police Command.

According to the statement, Ogungbade said, “The charges are based on findings from a police investigation alleging that Mr. Olalekan was in a relationship with the deceased, Victoria Olapeju Ariyo, who was reportedly pregnant at the time of her death.

“The investigation further alleges that he encouraged the termination of the pregnancy, recommended an individual to carry out the procedure, and provided financial support for it. The deceased was said to have died following the procedure.”

The government described claims questioning the credibility of evidence and suggesting missing witnesses as “false and misleading,” emphasising that the case remains at a preliminary stage.

It stressed that issues relating to evidence would be determined during trial and warned against speculation that could undermine confidence in the judicial process.

The Attorney-General urged the public and media to allow the court process to run its course and to disregard unverified information circulating about the case.