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A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has granted bail to Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow, who was accused of abducting and forcefully marrying Ese Oruru, a 14-year-old girl from the state.
The Kano-born suspect is standing trial on five-count of abduction, illicit sex and unlawful canal knowledge of Ese.
Justice H.A Ngajiwa ruled that the felonies committed by Yunusa were bailable and asked him to provide N3million, two sureties resident within the court’s jurisdiction and write an undertaking that he would not jump bail.
As part of the conditions for the bail, one of the sureties must be a renowned title holder and a public servant on grade level 12 who must provide first appointment and promotion letters.
The judge further ordered that the sureties must provide their tax clearance certificates.
The court was filled up today with Ese’s parents, Charles and Rose; Chairman and members of the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Chief Nengi James, Ankio Briggs, Alagoa Morris and State Coordinator, Women of Excellence, Mrs. Tariere Gita, as well as journaists from various media, in attendance.
Ankio Briggs, founder of Agape Rights Organisation (ARO), however expressed doubts that the state would ensure diligent prosecution of the case.
According to her, the Delta, Bayelsa states and all the governors in the Niger Delta region had not shown commitment to the matter.
She said:
“This thing happened in the Niger Delta. It has been going on and we believe it will continue to go on. If we say that justice is for everybody then justice should be seen to be carried out so that everybody is satisfied.
“How can somebody carry a child from Bayelsa to Kano state, keep her for eight months, impregnate her, change her region; what are they saying? Is he the father of the child?
“Who is the father of the child? Is she going to have the baby? These are so many things that are personal. The circumstance in which she got pregnant is very offensive.
“With all due respect, this case is a very volatile case, it is very serious case. I am not satisfied with the handling of the case by the Delta and Bayelsa state government. Maybe, because the parents are poor”.
She further described as offensive the claims of Yunusa’s lawyers that his affairs with Ese was that of Romeo and Juliet.
She said:
“Which kind Romeo and Juliet? Ok, all these people who are calling it Romeo and Juliet, let a Keke Napep driver kidnap their 13 years old daughter and then say they are in love.
“What type of love is that? What sort of Romeo and Juliet is that? The law say that a 13 years old girl has no right to find herself in a position of Romeo and Juliet, full stop and that is what the law says”.