An Ogun State Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, on Monday ordered the remand of a National Youth Service Corps official, Abass Olalekan, for 60 days over his alleged involvement in the death of a 23-year-old corps member, Victoria Ariyo, following a suspected unlawful abortion.
The remand order was issued by Magistrate O.T. Odubanjo after an ex parte application filed by the police prosecutor, Solomon Babalola, seeking the defendant’s custody pending legal advice from the Ogun State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Olalekan, who was initially arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and attempt to procure abortion, had earlier pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with conditions.
However, proceedings took a dramatic turn on Monday as the defendant was re-arraigned on an amended four-count charge, including murder.
According to the charge sheet, Olalekan and others now at large allegedly conspired between January and March 2026 at the Ikereku area of Laderin, Abeokuta, to procure an unlawful abortion for the deceased.
The prosecution further alleged that the defendant supplied drugs to Ariyo to terminate the pregnancy, an act said to have resulted in her death.
The amended charges also accused the defendant of conspiracy to commit murder and the unlawful killing of the victim, contrary to Sections 324 and 319 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
Babalola told the court that the remand was necessary to allow the police conclude investigations and obtain legal advice from the DPP on the upgraded charges.
Ruling on the application, Magistrate Odubanjo granted the request and ordered that Olalekan be remanded at the Oba Correctional Centre, Abeokuta, pending the DPP’s advice.
The case was adjourned till June 1, 2026, for further proceedings.
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