…Accused Faces Possible Prosecution Over Alleged Same-Sex Relationship, Family Dispute
Authorities in Ogun State have declared a 61-year-old former civil servant, Mrs. Modupeola Yetunde Oginni, wanted for allegedly jumping administrative bail granted by a local security outfit, Western Nigeria Security Network, Popularly known as Amotekun Corps.
Mrs. Oginni, a retired Chief Confidential Secretary who previously worked with the Ogun State Judiciary, was reportedly detained in November 2023 by operatives of the Amotekun Corps following a family dispute that escalated into allegations bordering on her sexual orientation and refusal to submit to certain traditional rites.
According to accounts attributed to the suspect, she was apprehended after members of her late husband’s family allegedly attempted to compel her into a ritual process and a remarriage arrangement with her deceased husband’s younger brother.
The situation reportedly drew the intervention of the Amotekun Corps, who took her and two family members into custody for investigation.
While in detention, allegations were raised by her in-laws that Mrs. Oginni was involved in a same-sex relationship—an act criminalised under Nigerian law.
Security operatives subsequently launched an inquiry into the claims and granted her administrative bail on the condition that she report daily pending the conclusion of investigations.
However, sources indicate that Mrs. Oginni failed to comply with the bail conditions and subsequently absconded. She was later traced to Akure, Ondo State, before reportedly relocating again to Abuja and eventually leaving Nigeria in early 2025.
Security sources say her disappearance has complicated ongoing investigations, prompting authorities to declare her wanted for bail violation and to possibly face charges related to alleged offences under Nigeria’s Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act.
Efforts to reach family members for comments were unsuccessful, but community sources in Abeokuta alleged that tensions had long existed between Mrs. Oginni and her late husband’s relatives over inheritance issues and cultural expectations.
Meanwhile, human rights observers note that cases involving allegations of sexual orientation, family coercion, and traditional practices often present complex legal and social challenges in Nigeria.
As of press time, authorities have urged members of the public with useful information on Mrs. Oginni’s whereabouts to report to the nearest security agency.
