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Ese Oruru

Ese Oruru’s counsel seeks secret trial for teenager; challenges bail for alleged abductor

Ese Oruru
Ese Oruru
CHINEDU WOSU, Yenagoa
Prosecuting counsel in the abduction and forced marriage case has pleaded with Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, presided over by Hon. Justice H.A. Nganjiwa to grant a secret trial to the recently freed 14 year-old Ese Orusu who was allegedly abducted in Yenagoa and forcefully married by his abductor in Kano State.
During the hearing in a case number FHC/YEN/17c/2016, IGP vs Yunusa Dahiru, where the accused (Yunusa, 18) is standing trial on a five-count charge of abduction, kidnapping, unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual exploitation of 14 year-old Ese Oruru, the prosecuting counsel led by Mr Kenneth Dika pleaded with the court to take evidence from Oruru in private in view of her status as a minor.
The lead counsel also objected to the application for bail made by the Defence team led by Mr. Kayode Olaoshebikan.
He also argued that if the accused is granted bail, it would be difficult to get him back to face the trial.
In a 10-point counter affidavit deposed to by police Inspector, Debo Waheed, the prosecution averred that it took the police six months rigorous search before Yunusa was apprehended.
He argued that if the accused is granted bail, he would not come back, more so as he is not resident within the judicial district.
Earlier in the 7-point affidavit supporting the application for bail deposed to by Ayodeji Maxwel, the Defence cited section 158 and 168 of Administration of Criminal Justice, and section 36 of the 1999 constitution as amended and urged the court to grant the accused bail.
The defence counsel objected to the application for secret trial by the prosecuting counsel, arguing that the case is already in the public domain, just as he urged the court to dismiss the application.
The presiding over the matter, judge, Justice H.A. Nganjiwa adjourned ruling on both the application for bail and secret trial to March 21, 2016.
However, Yunusa has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
It would be recalled that Yunusa Dahiru and two others at large allegedly conspired and abducted Miss Rita Ese Oruru, aged 14 between August 2015 and February and forcefully took her to Kano for forced marriage, sexual exploitation and illicit intercourse.

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