Ogun AG rejects public pressure over rearrest of Nurse Kehinde Adesanya

Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), has rejected mounting public pressure regarding the rearrest and detention of Nurse Kehinde Adesanya, insisting that his office will not be swayed by what he described as a “media trial” or intimidation.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, on Saturday, Ogungbade emphasized that legal cases are prosecuted strictly within the framework of the law and not in the court of public opinion. He added that legal advice on the matter would be issued in the coming days.

“I don’t think I want to join issues with them in the media. We don’t prosecute or do our work in the court of public opinion; we do so before a court of law. They should simply await our legal advice, which should be out early next week,” he said.

The Attorney General accused the petitioners of inconsistency, noting that the same group had previously engaged with his office in a separate criminal matter.

“Their position, however, smacks of double standards. A week or so ago, they wrote a similar open letter over what they saw as inaction regarding the alleged gang rape of a student by four of her fellow students. My office intervened. Those boys are currently remanded. At that time, because it suited them, there was no complaint,” Ogungbade added.

He maintained that the Attorney General’s office remains resolute in discharging its constitutional duties.

“They should be patient. They should know by now that if there is one office in Ogun State that cannot be intimidated in the discharge of its duties, it is the office of the Attorney General,” he said.

Ogungbade explained that the earlier correspondence was directed to the Ministry of Women Affairs and was later brought to his attention. He also noted that the police had conducted investigations, and the four suspects in the earlier case were already remanded.

“The episode shows that in one case they advocate that due process be followed, while in this case, they question the same due process they advocate in the other matter,” he said.

He also clarified the legal framework guiding criminal prosecution: “The duty of the police is to investigate. The ultimate decision whether to prosecute or not, or indeed whether to terminate any charge filed by the police or allow it to proceed, lies with the office of the Attorney General. The woman was simply released on bail to her husband pending further investigation,” Ogungbade stated.

He extended an invitation to the petitioners for further clarification on the case, offering a Monday meeting at 2 pm to explain the decision-making process.

The controversy follows an open petition by the Elegant Nurses Forum, calling for urgent federal and state intervention in the case of Nurse Kehinde Adesanya, 37, who was remanded for 60 days at Ibara Correctional Centre, Abeokuta, after being arraigned at a Magistrate Court in Isabo.

Adesanya faces a four-count charge of conspiracy, unlawful abortion, and murder, linked to the death of 23-year-old NYSC member Victoria Ariyo. Police allege that drugs supplied by the nurse led to the victim’s death, which occurred between January and March 2026 at the Ikereku area of Laderin, Abeokuta.

The presiding Magistrate, O.O. Sam-Obaleye, adjourned the case to May 26, 2026, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

In its petition, the Elegant Nurses Forum claimed that Adesanya had been previously cleared by police investigations and had acted within professional boundaries. The forum argued that the victim had been diagnosed with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and anaemia at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, before her death.

The group warned that the rearrest and ongoing detention could undermine public confidence in the justice system and expose healthcare professionals to wrongful prosecution.

Their demands include an independent review of the case file, clarification on the legal basis for rearrest, protection for healthcare workers, immediate release of the nurse if no credible evidence is established.

Police investigations also linked the deceased to Abass Olalekan, an NYSC inspector in Abeokuta South Local Government. Olalekan was earlier arraigned on charges of conspiracy and attempted procurement of abortion. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail of N500,000.

As the legal debate intensifies, Ogun State’s Attorney General has reaffirmed that due process will guide prosecution.

The case underscores the delicate balance between public opinion, professional accountability, and the rule of law. Both healthcare professionals and the public are now awaiting legal guidance on this highly sensitive matter.