Ese Oruru’s abductor, Yinusa arraigned at Federal High Court Yenagoa, pleads not guilty

Yinusa Dahiru

Ese Eruru

Yinusa Dahiru, the alleged abductor of Ese Rita Eruru, was Tuesday arraign before a Federal High Court on five count charge of abduction, kidnapping, unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual exploitation.

Yinusa, appeared in court amidst tight security and was arraigned before Justice H.A. Nganjiwa on a five count charge.

The accused was charged in charge No FHC/YNG/17c/2016, in a case between the Inspector General of Police, IGP, versus Yinusa Dahiru ‘M’ aged 18.

The charges brought Yinusa read:

“That you Yunusa Dahiru ‘M’ of Opolo-Epie, with Dankano Mohammed, ‘m’, Mallam Alhassan, ‘m’ presently at large between the months of August 2015 and February 2016 at Opolo-Epie in Yenagoa Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did conspire among yourself to commit an offence to wit: Abduction and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 27 (a) of the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

“That you Yunusa Dahiru ‘M’ of Opolo-Epie between the months of August 2015 and February 2016 at Opolo Epie, Yenegoa, in the Yenagoa Division of the Federal High Court abducted one Rita Ese Oruru ‘f’ aged 14 years by means of coercion, transported and harboured her in Kano state and therby committed an offence punishable under section 13 (2) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

“That you Yunusa Dahiru ‘M’ of Opolo-Epie between the months of August 2015 and February 2016 at Opolo-Epie. Yenagoa in the Yenagoa Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, induced one Rita Ese Oruru ‘f’ aged 14 years by the use of deception and coercion to go with you from Yenagoa to Kano state with intent that she be forced or seduced into illicit intercourse and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 15 (a) of the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Enforcement Administration Act, 2015.

“That you Yunusa Dahiru ‘M’ of Opolo-Epie between the months of August 2015 and February 2016 at Opolo-Epie, Yenagoa in Yenagoa Judicial Division of the Federal High Court procured one Rita Ese Oruru ‘f’ aged 14 years and subjected her into sexual exploitation in Kano state and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 16 (1) of the Trafficking in person (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

“That you Yunusa ‘M’ of Opolo-Epie between the months of August 1015 and Fenruary 2016 at OIpolo-Epie. Yenagoa in Yenagoa Judicial Division of the Federal High Court had unlawful carnal knowledge of one Rita Ede Oruru ‘f’ aged 14 years, without her consent and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 357 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under section 358 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C. 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigerian, 2004.”

After hearing the charges, the accused pleaded not guilty before the court while the case was adjourned March 14 for hearing on the bail application by his counsel, Mr Kayode Olaoshaebikan.

The judge ruled that the accused should be remanded in prison custody.

Counsel to Yunusa, Kayode Olashaebikan, said that he was confident of winning the case saying that there was no case.

“It is easy for the prosecution to bring up charges but Yunusa as a man has pleaded not guilty and it is left for the prosecution to prove their case beyond every reasonable doubt.

“It is case of two love birds, in our social parlance we call it elopement but government and the state prefer to call it abduction and it is left for the court to decide whether it is abduction or elopement of two minors because Yunusa is 18 years old and the girl in question is 14 years old.” Olashaebikan said.

While the Prosecuting counsel, Mr Kenneth Dika, said the state was ready to prove its case against the accused persons.

He said that they were ready with its six witnesses to assist in successful prosecution.