2 Women Docked For Inducing Abortion On Married Woman Without Husband’s Consent

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Two women, Lydia Samuel, 44 and Chidera Precious Ndudirim, 22, have been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly inducing abortion on a married woman, Mrs. Abigail Olukoya, without the consent of her husband. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 21st December, 2024, at Ilogbo Area in Ajangbadi Ojo, Lagos State.

According to the Police, the woman became pregnant and secretly arranged with the suspects to terminate the pregnancy, which they eventually did.

However, the information leaked to the woman’s husband, who reported the women’s conduct to the Police in the area. They were then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over their alleged conduct.

After rounds of interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

COUNT I: “That you, Lydia Samuel ‘F’ and Chidera Precious Ndudirim ‘F’ and others now at large on the 21st  December, 2024 at about 1000 hours, at Ilogbo Area in Ajangbadi Ojo Lagos State, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to attempt to commit abortion and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2015.”

COUNT II:” That you, Lydia Samuel ‘F’ and Chidera Precious Ndudirim ‘f’, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did with intent to attempt to procure miscarriage of one Abigail Olukoya and unlawfully administered to her an injection without the consent of her husband and thereby committed and offence contrary to and punishable under Section 145(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

COUNT III:”That you, Lydia Samuel ‘F’ and Chidera Precious Ndudirim ‘f’, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully inject one Abigail Olukoya with a syringe knowing that it is intended to be unlawfully used to procure the miscarriage of a woman and thereby committed and offence contrary to and punishable under Section 147(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

COUNT IV:” That you, Lydia Samuel ‘F’ and Chidera Precious Ndudirim ‘f’, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, knowingly have your possession utensils or any instrument unlawfully used to procure miscarriage of a woman and thereby committed and offence contrary to punishable under Section 329 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

However, they pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.A. Popoola, granted them bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned till 20th January, 2025, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.