A staff member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ogun State, Abass Olalekan, appeared before an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday over the death of a corps member, Olapeju Ariyo, for allegedly supplying drugs to terminate a pregnancy.
The defendant, a resident of the Mosafuneto area of Oke Ata, Abeokuta, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempt to procure an abortion by supplying drugs.
ASP Lawrence Olu-Balogun, the prosecutor in the matter, informed the court that the defendant committed the offences between January and March at the Ikereku area, Laderin, Abeokuta.
The police prosecutor said Olalekan conspired with others now at large to commit a felony, to wit, abortion. The defendant, it was said, was having an affair with the late corps member, who was serving in Abeokuta.
He told the court that the drugs procured by the defendant to terminate the pregnancy were allegedly responsible for Ariyo’s death.
ASP Olu-Balogun said the offences committed contravened Sections 516 and 230 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the defendant, Mrs Bunmi Adelabu, prayed the court to grant Olalekan bail on the most liberal terms.
She cited Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), while informing the court that the charge did not suggest that the defendant was responsible for the death of the deceased.
Magistrate A.K. Araba granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She directed that one of the sureties must be a blood relative, while the other must be gainfully employed.
She 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 State government.
The magistrate also ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions.
The case was, however, adjourned until April 14 for a further hearing.