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Clarifies Court’s Ruling on Bail Application
- Safiu Kehinde
The Ogun State Government has taken over the case of a National Youths Service Corps’ (NYSC) Local Government Inspector (LGI), Abass Olalekan, who was arrested and arraigned to court over the death of a female corp member.
NPO Reported that the late female corp member, identified as Victoria Ariyo, who was posted to Abeokuta South LGA, passed away after suffering from abortion complications with Abass alleged to be responsible for the pregnancy.
The NYSC official was alleged to have encouraged Ariyo to terminate the pregnancy.
While Abass was on Monday arraigned before the Magistrate Court 1 in Isabo, Abeokuta, on a two-count charge, he was however granted bail, a decision which as met with public backlash.
The strength of evidence presented over the case was also subject of public discourse as it was considered weak with no witnesses presented during the hearing.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), the Ogun state government dismissed the claims circulating online about the strength of evidence in the case against Abass.
Ogungabde clarified that the grant of bail was based solely on the bailable nature of the charges and does not reflect the strength or quality of the evidence.
The Attorney-General 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, the charges are based on findings from a police investigation alleging that Mr. Olalekan was in a relationship with the deceased, 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.
Ogungbade described claims questioning the credibility of evidence and suggesting missing witnesses as “false and misleading,” emphasizing that the case remains at a preliminary stage.
He maintained 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.