Nurse to Face Court Over Corps Member's Death

Kehinde Adesanya, a 37-year-old nurse, will appear in court on Monday. She is facing charges related to the death of Ariyo Victoria Olapeju, a 23-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member. The hearing will take place at a Magistrate’s Court in Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Documents from the court show that the police accused Ms Adesanya of giving abortion drugs that led to the corps member's death. This newspaper learned that she first appeared in court on March 26 and was sent to the Ibara correctional facility in Abeokuta while waiting for legal advice from the Ogun State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The police asked the court to keep her in custody for 60 days. When that period ended on May 26, the DPP’s advice was still not ready. The court then postponed the case to June 26. The June proceedings were also delayed because the DPP had not yet provided legal advice.

Recently, the DPP issued the long-awaited legal advice. This caused the court to set the proceedings for today, Monday. Lawyers’ Alert, a non-profit organization, has been following the case. They said in a statement that the DPP's advice suggested dropping the murder charge against the nurse. PREMIUM TIMES has not confirmed this development independently.

With the DPP’s advice against the murder charge, Ms Adesanya now faces charges related to abortion. She is still in custody at the Ibara Custodial Centre in Abeokuta and will appear in court on Monday.

A decision is expected on whether her trial will be held at the High Court, which handles serious crimes, or at the magistrate’s court. An affidavit from the police officer, Ojo Aderemi, noted that the case started after a complaint was made on March 12.

The complaint was filed by Okunade Adeyanju. He told the police he received a call three days earlier from a woman named Ayanfe. She claimed that Ms Olapeju was critically ill. The police reported that the deceased was serving with the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency under the NYSC scheme. She was later taken to a private hospital in Adatan, Abeokuta, where doctors confirmed she had died.

Investigators believe Ms Olapeju died after what they called a failed abortion. The affidavit mentioned that Ms Adesanya tried to end what the police said was an ectopic pregnancy. They claim this procedure led to the corps member’s death.

The police visited the scene, took statements from the complainant, witnesses, and the suspect. They collected evidence and sent the case file to the DPP for legal advice. Investigators told the court they thought a case of murder had been made against the nurse.

Initially, the Ogun State Police Command charged Ms Adesanya with four counts: conspiracy, unlawful abortion, and murder. The first count claimed she and others not captured agreed to perform an unlawful abortion between January and March. The second count accused her of unlawfully trying to procure the abortion of Ms Olapeju by giving her drugs.

The third count stated she conspired with others to commit murder during that time. The fourth count claimed she unlawfully caused the death of the 23-year-old corps member by giving her abortion drugs.

In March, the police made an emergency application to the magistrate’s court in Abeokuta. They wanted to keep Ms Adesanya in custody for 60 days to await the DPP’s advice. The application asked the court to allow her detention at the Ibara Custodial Centre until the DPP’s advice came and she could be arraigned.

Police legal officer S.G. Babalola supported the application, saying the court had the power to approve it. Babalola urged the magistrate to grant the request, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the need for the DPP’s review before the prosecution could proceed.

Lawyers’ Alert informed our reporter that the Ogun State DPP reviewed the police investigation and suggested dropping the murder charge. According to legal advice, the DPP recommended dropping the murder charge while keeping the abortion-related charges against Ms Adesanya.

This decision narrowed the prosecution to the remaining abortion-related offences. After this decision, Lawyers’ Alert expressed concerns about pressure on their client to plead guilty. In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES, Director Legal Bamidele Jacobs said Ms Adesanya faced ongoing pressure to plead guilty, even though she wanted to understand the legal implications first.

The organization said it consistently advised her against a guilty plea unless it was part of a negotiated deal that protected her rights. They also raised concerns that Ms Adesanya had been stopped from seeing her mother and twin sister while in custody. They claimed her husband was selling her belongings to pay for legal help without trying to get her released on bail.

Lawyers’ Alert stated these allegations highlighted broader issues about women facing criminal charges linked to reproductive healthcare. This case comes as Nigeria continues discussing abortion laws. In southern Nigeria, including Ogun State, abortion is usually banned under the Criminal Code unless it is to save the woman’s life.

Rights advocates argue the law should align with Nigeria’s responsibilities under the Maputo Protocol. This protocol allows abortion in specific cases, such as rape or when the woman’s life or health is at risk. The organization said women in detention often deal with stigma, financial issues, family problems, and societal judgment that may affect their ability to make legal decisions.

While recognizing that advice from family members does not equal gender-based violence, Lawyers’ Alert said that if a woman is pressured, manipulated, or intimidated while in detention, it could be considered psychological abuse. They cited international and local laws recognizing emotional and psychological abuse as violence against women.

The organization also referenced Sections 34 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, stating every accused person deserves dignity, a fair hearing, independent legal advice, and the right to make an informed plea. They emphasized the need to safeguard women’s rights throughout the legal process.

Lawyers’ Alert called on authorities to ensure Ms Adesanya’s rights are protected. They said she should have access to independent legal help and mental support. They also insisted her decisions during the legal process should be free from coercion.

The organization has long advocated for reproductive rights in Nigeria. They have challenged parts of Nigeria’s abortion laws at the ECOWAS Court of Justice. They argue that Nigeria should align its laws with the Maputo Protocol and other human rights agreements. Women facing charges related to pregnancy deserve full protection of their rights, including access to legal representation and fair trial guarantees.

The allegations made by Lawyers’ Alert have not been verified by PREMIUM TIMES. At the time of this report, no one involved in the case had responded to these claims.