A 37-year-old nurse, Kehinde Adesanya, charged in connection with the death of a 23-year-old National Youth Service Corps member, Ariyo Victoria Olapeju, is expected to appear before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday.
Adesanya has been in custody at the Ibara Custodial Centre, Abeokuta, following allegations by the Ogun State Police Command that she unlawfully administered abortion drugs which allegedly led to the death of the corps member.
Court documents showed that the defendant first appeared before the court on March 26, 2026, after which she was remanded for an initial period of 60 days pending legal advice from the Ogun State Director of Public Prosecutions.
However, when the remand period elapsed on May 26, the DPP’s advice was not ready, prompting the court to adjourn the matter to June 26. The proceedings again stalled because the legal advice had not been issued at the time.
The DPP has now reportedly issued its legal advice, leading to the rescheduling of the matter for Monday.
According to Lawyers’ Alert, a non-profit organisation monitoring the case, the DPP recommended that the murder charge initially contained in the indictment against Adesanya be discontinued. The development has not been independently confirmed by the reporting outlet.
With the alleged DPP advice, the nurse is now expected to face abortion-related charges rather than murder.
The case began after a complaint was lodged with the police on March 12. In an affidavit sworn by the investigating police officer, Ojo Aderemi, the police said the complaint was made by Okunade Adeyanju, who told investigators that he received a call from a woman identified as Ayanfe, said to be a friend of his stepsister, informing him that Olapeju had become critically ill.
The deceased, who was serving with the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency under the NYSC scheme, was taken to a private hospital in Adatan, Abeokuta, where doctors confirmed her dead.
Police investigators alleged that Olapeju died following what they described as a failed abortion. They further alleged that Adesanya attempted to terminate what they described as an ectopic pregnancy and that the procedure led to the corps member’s death.
Investigators said they visited the scene, obtained statements from the complainant, witnesses and the suspect, collected documentary evidence and forwarded the duplicate case file to the DPP for legal advice.
The police had initially filed four counts against Adesanya, accusing her of conspiracy, unlawful abortion and murder.
The first count alleged conspiracy to commit unlawful abortion, contrary to Section 616 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State. The second count accused her of unlawfully attempting to procure Olapeju’s abortion by administering drugs, contrary to Section 230 of the Criminal Code.
The third count alleged conspiracy to commit murder, while the fourth count accused her of unlawfully causing the death of the corps member by administering abortion drugs, an offence punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code.
In March, the police filed an ex parte application under Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice and Other Related Matters Law of Ogun State, 2017, seeking an order to remand Adesanya for 60 days pending DPP’s legal advice and her arraignment before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Following the DPP’s reported decision to discontinue the murder allegation, Lawyers’ Alert raised concern over what it described as attempts to pressure the defendant into pleading guilty.
In a statement by its Director Legal, Bamidele Jacobs, the organisation alleged that Adesanya had been under sustained pressure to plead guilty despite wanting to understand the legal implications of such a decision.
The organisation said it had advised her not to enter a guilty plea unless it forms part of a negotiated plea agreement that protects her legal rights and interests.
Lawyers’ Alert also expressed concern over reports that Adesanya had been prevented from seeing her mother and twin sister while in custody. It further alleged that her husband had been selling her personal belongings to fund legal representation without making sufficient efforts to secure her release on bail.
The group said the allegations, if established, raise broader concerns about the vulnerability of women facing criminal prosecution in connection with reproductive healthcare.
It argued that women in detention often face stigma, economic dependence, family pressure, social condemnation and unequal gender norms that may affect their ability to make independent legal decisions.
The organisation maintained that while advice from spouses or relatives does not automatically amount to gender-based violence, persistent pressure, emotional manipulation, intimidation or attempts to override a woman’s decision while in detention may amount to coercive control and psychological abuse.
Lawyers’ Alert cited the Constitution, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the Maputo Protocol and other human rights instruments as recognising the need to protect women from emotional and psychological abuse in appropriate circumstances.
It also said Sections 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution guarantee every accused person the right to dignity, fair hearing, independent legal advice and an informed and voluntary plea.
The organisation urged authorities to ensure that Adesanya’s constitutional rights are protected, that she has access to independent legal representation and psychosocial support, and that any decision she makes in the criminal proceedings is free from coercion or undue influence.
The case has also reopened debate over Nigeria’s abortion laws. In southern Nigeria, including Ogun State, abortion is generally prohibited under the Criminal Code except where it is performed to save the life of the pregnant woman.
Rights advocates, however, argue that Nigeria’s legal framework should be interpreted alongside its obligations under the Maputo Protocol, which calls on state parties to permit abortion in limited circumstances, including rape, incest, sexual assault, or where the pregnancy threatens the life or health of the woman or foetus.
The court is expected to determine the next step in the matter, including whether trial should proceed before the High Court or remain before the magistrate’s court, depending on the charges sustained against the defendant.
