The Ogun State Government has taken over the prosecution of an NYSC official charged in connection with the death of a female corps member, dismissing online claims that the evidence in the case is weak and warning the public against speculation that could undermine the judicial process.
Abass Olalekan, a Local Government Inspector with the NYSC in Abeokuta South, was arraigned on 23 March 2026 before Magistrate Court 1 in Isabo, Abeokuta, on two counts of conspiracy and unlawful procurement of abortion. He pleaded not guilty to both charges. Presiding Magistrate A.K. Araba granted him bail of ₦500,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a blood relative and the other gainfully employed.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the bail decision had been widely misread as a reflection of the evidence against the defendant. He clarified that bail was granted solely because the charges are bailable in nature and bears no relation to the strength of the prosecution's case.
The Attorney General's office confirmed it had received the case file from the State Police Command and formally taken over the prosecution. According to the statement, police investigations allege that Olalekan was in a romantic 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 a person to carry out the procedure and provided financial support for it. Ariyo was said to have died from complications following the procedure.
Ogungbade described claims circulating online about missing witnesses and insufficient evidence as "false and misleading," stressing that the case remains at a preliminary stage and that all evidential matters would be determined during trial.
The development follows earlier confirmation by the NYSC that a staff member had been detained in connection with Ariyo's death, a case that has renewed national attention on the safety and welfare of corps members during their service year.
