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  • From Ese Oruru to Walida: Exposing selective outrage in child sexual exploitation cases

    From Ese Oruru to Walida: Exposing selective outrage in child sexual exploitation cases

    • By Yushau A. Shuaib

    I have always resisted being dragged into ethnoreligious arguments. Not because the issues are trivial, but because many of the loudest voices in such debates are not merely passionate—they are fanatical. Some are so blinded by affiliation that they excuse injustice, flirt with heresy, or even justify violence in defence of identity.

    In recent months, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump’s inflammatory threats against Nigerian Muslims over an alleged “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, I found myself losing respect for some elders, friends, and colleagues. Their positions were so reckless and prejudiced that I questioned whether our long-standing relationships had ever been grounded in sincerity.

    It was against this background that recent media reports jolted my memory: a Department of State Services (DSS) operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, had been arrested for allegedly abducting, raping, and forcibly converting a Muslim girl to Christianity. Instantly, my mind travelled back to 2016—the traumatic case of Ese Oruru and Yunusa Dahiru, popularly known as “Yellow.” That episode dominated newspapers, television screens, social media timelines, and the commentary of self-styled influencers who fed hungrily on outrage.

    In March 2016, precisely 10 years ago, I intervened in that heated national debate with an article titled “Ese Oruru: From Delta to Northern Savannah.” Drawing from my positive 1992 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) experience in Delta State, I contrasted a past era of inter-ethnic openness with the poisonous divisions that surfaced during the Ese Oruru–Yunusa Dahiru saga. Ese, a teenage girl from Bayelsa, and Yunusa, a young Kano-born artisan living in Yenagoa, became unwilling symbols in a storm whipped up by sensationalist media, political opportunists, and religious bigots.

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    My argument then was simple but unpopular: what should have been treated as a grave but personal criminal matter—an ill-advised and unlawful teenage elopement—was irresponsibly reframed into a national crisis of religion and ethnicity. The case was weaponised. Hypocrisy flourished. Sectarian outrage drowned nuance. And anyone who urged restraint or perspective was branded a traitor.

    The facts of that case are well known. Ese Oruru, a teenager, was taken from Bayelsa to Kano by Yunusa Dahiru, who claimed to be her boyfriend. She was allegedly forced to convert to Islam and married without parental consent. Following intense public pressure, she was rescued in 2016 while pregnant. In 2020, a Federal High Court sentenced Yunusa to 26 years in prison for child trafficking and sexual exploitation. On appeal, the sentence was reduced to seven years, accounting for time already spent in custody.

    What received far less attention, however, was what happened afterwards. Yunusa reportedly completed his secondary education while incarcerated and was described by the Nigerian Correctional Service as a well-behaved and reform-minded inmate and was released in 2023. Ese Oruru, on the other hand, despite the trauma and stigma, returned to school and later gained admission to the University of Ilorin, from which she graduated in 2025. These outcomes did not erase the crime, but they reminded us that justice, rehabilitation, and human recovery can coexist.

    Fast-forward to the present. The DSS has confirmed the arrest of its operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, following a petition alleging that he abducted a Muslim girl, Walida Abdulhadi, kept her in a DSS residence for two years, sexually exploited her, and forcibly converted her to Christianity. According to her family, they searched desperately for Walida during this period and reportedly lost her mother to the trauma. They only learned of her whereabouts when the suspect allegedly called her father on New Year’s Day 2026, claiming Walida had given birth to his child and that he intended to marry her.

    The family’s lawyers have rightly described the case as a grave abuse of office and demanded prosecution and an independent investigation of the DSS facility involved. To its credit, the DSS confirmed the arrest, condemned the alleged conduct as a violation of its code of ethics, and announced that a full investigation is underway, with assurances that findings will be made public.

    And yet, here lies the uncomfortable question: where is the outrage?

    Nearly a decade ago, Nigeria erupted over the abduction and alleged forced conversion of Ese Oruru, a Christian girl, to Islam. Today, a Muslim girl is alleged to have been abducted, raped, and forcibly converted to Christianity by a state security operative. Will this case attract the same volume of condemnation? The same moral panic? The same international attention? Or will it be quietly processed because it does not fit a preferred narrative?

    When I wrote in 2016, I was almost crucified for refusing to dance to the drums of sectarian hysteria. Today, faced with a disturbingly similar incident, I find myself cautious—almost hesitant—to speak, knowing how easily principled arguments can be twisted into accusations of bias.

    But silence, too, is a position.

    Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of ‘An Encounter with the Spymaster’

    Email: yashuaib@yashuaib.com.

  • The Ese Oruru message

    The Ese Oruru message

    She was 13 years old when she was abducted and abused in 2015. Her abductor, Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow, was twice her age, at 26. Until the police reportedly rescued her about six months later in February 2016, after a series of shocking collusion and connivance by state and traditional authorities, not to talk of the initial impotence of the police themselves, Ese Oruru, a Deltan living in Bayelsa State with her parents, seemed lost to the fog of early marriage and misguided religious fervour. No one has adequately explained why a clear case of abduction involving a minor, forced marriage, and abuse could take all of six months to resolve. Happily, and even ecstatically as it would turn out more than 10 years later, Miss Oruru at last graduated last month with a 2:1 in Education Technology from the University of Ilorin, while Mr Dahiru is serving a 26-year jail term. All is well that ends well, isn’t it?

    Not exactly. The Miss Oruru story, which her family has tried to shield from public curiosity given the trauma they endured in those heady months in 2015, goes far beyond the valour of the Orurus and the victim’s extraordinary resilience. The story is a scary pointer to what might have been had she not been extricated from servitude in Kano to which Mr Dahiru transported her into the embrace of traditional and political institutions that at first feigned helplessness and waffled over what age constituted consent and accountability. Having now graduated at 23, Miss Oruru has her future ahead of her, especially with a solid educational foundation. How many like her get a second chance? Her dreams and trajectory as a pre-teen might have been skewed a little by her experience, but they were obviously not truncated. She was abducted on August 12, 2015, and her family members were in Kano two days later seeking her freedom. Though they acted fast enough, a retrogressive cultural rampart stood in the way, inexplicably delaying freedom for another six months. It is not unlikely that thousands of similar abductees fail to secure extraction due to weak law enforcement institutions and overbearing traditional and cultural authorities.

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    What makes Miss Oruru exceptional is that her recovery was marked by phenomenal progress and stellar academic performance. It is, therefore, legitimate to ask how many million geniuses are lost to unhealthy and retrogressive cultural and religious practices in Nigeria. For instance, of the estimated 12 to 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, nearly 80 percent of whom are sucked into the Almajiri system wreaking havoc in the Northeast and Northwest, how many geniuses will never be discovered? But even outside the out-of-school bracket, there are millions who because of poverty or early marriage never get the chance to prove their genius or contribute substantially to Nigeria’s development. That tantalising possibility will always haunt the country and render it a global spectacle, especially given the fact that it harbours the largest population of out-of-school children in the world.

    Most states in Nigeria may have already domesticated the Child Rights Act enacted in 2003, but the devil is in the detail. For instance, the age of consent varies among states; so, too, some of the rights under the law, whether it pertains to the right to survival, a name, family life, privacy, dignity, recreation, cultural activities, healthcare, or education. Rather than domesticate the Child Rights Act, Kano State, more than 10 years later, enacted a Child Protection Law in 2023. Though applauded by UNICEF, it remains to be seen to what extent the law will qualitatively improve the lives of children in the state and protect them from the ravages of controversial cultural and religious practices. Zamfara is another state out of a few unenthusiastic about the Child Rights Act. In 2022, one year before Kano, it, however, enacted a social protection law, which contains a provision for child welfare that is clearly not enough.

    For Kano, Zamfara, and the few states uncertain about just what rights to grant their children, they are clearly halting between the past and the future. They must come out of their long-term dithering if they are to unleash the ‘devastating’ potentials of their youths. As Miss Oruru has proved by her determination and accomplishment at the university despite a hiatus at a crucial stage in her life, brilliance or any kind of profundity is not the exclusive preserve of any ethnic or religious group. There is of course a limit to how far the federal government can compel any state to change its developmental course; so the states themselves, particularly those still trapped in an unenviable past, must find the vision and political will to drag their people into the future if they are not to remain a national liability. Progress and development are obviously not opposed or inversely related to any religion or culture, as many countries even in religiously conservative countries in the Middle East have amply demonstrated.

  • Ese Oruru’s ‘abductor’ released after meeting bail conditions

    Ese Oruru’s ‘abductor’ released after meeting bail conditions

    Yunusa Dahiru (aka Yellow), who is on trial for allegedly abducting 14-year-old Ese Oruru, a Delta State indigene in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, has met his bail conditions.

    It was gathered that Yunusa left prison custody at the weekend after spending over four months at the Okaka Prisons in Yenagoa.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said Yunusa was taken to his community in Kano State, in company of his defence lawyers.

    An indigene of Bayelsa State reportedly played a key role in fulfilling the bail condition slammed on Yunusa by the Federal High Court, contrary to insinuations that no Bayelsa indigene would be willing to stand surety for him because of ethnic and religious background.

    Yunusa’s lawyers had been battling since March to free him from prison, following the difficult bail conditions the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Ajiya Nganjiwa, slammed on him.

    Nganjiwa set a N3 million bail bond and two sureties, who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, as one of the conditions for Dahiru’s release.

    He also ruled that one of the sureties must be a traditional title holder, while the second must be a civil servant on Grade Level 12 or above.

    The bail conditions also stipulated that the two sureties must submit their three-year tax clearance receipts and that the defence lawyer must sign an undertaking that the accused would not jump bail.

    But the judge later reduced the conditions after Yunusa’s lawyer approached him, saying they could not meet some of the requirements.

    The court said a Level 9 civil servant could take him on bail and further granted Yunusa’s prayers to allow any traditional ruler from any community in the country to stand as surety for him.

    Many of the court sessions to hear the case recently were done in camera, following a request the court granted to the prosecution that Ese should be cross-examined in privacy.

    But a source privy to the private court proceedings said Ese had been antagonistic, seeing Yunusa and herself in the courtroom.

    Lawyer to the accused Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan confirmed release of his client, saying: “His people have taken him away.”

    He added that Ese’s cross-examination would continue on the next adjourned date.

    Miss Oruru gave birth to a baby girl and still in the protective custody of the Bayelsa State Police Command, which has taken responsibility for her upkeep in collaboration with the state government.

  • Ese Oruru gives evidence in camera

    Ese Oruru gives evidence in camera

    Journalists and parents of Ese – Rose and Charles Oruru – were yesterday disallowed from entering the courtroom, following the ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, to take the minor’s evidence in camera.

    Justice Njiya Ngajiwa delayed proceedings for about four hours to enable it dispense with other matters scheduled for the day before handling the case involving the minor.

    Ese was brought to the court by heavily armed security operatives who shielded her from journalists.

    As at 4 p.m, the minor was still undergoing cross-examination by lawyers to her alleged abductor, Yinusa Dahirun (aka Yellow), who reportedly impregnated her.

    Only lawyers representing Dahiru, who is facing a five-count charge in the case between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the accused and the prosecution, were allowed inside the court chambers.

    Dahiru, a Kano indigene, is standing trial for alleged abduction, illicit intercourse, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of 14-year-old Ese.

    The prosecution was led by Mr. Kenneth Dika, Deme Pamosoo and Joy Wokpe of the International Federation of Women lawyers (FIDA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

    Dahiru was represented by Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan, Abdul mohammed and Oyebiyi Towo.

    Asked how he felt when he heard that Ese gave birth, Dahiru insisted that Ese was his wife.

    “I don’t want to talk, but she’s my wife,” he told reporters before he prisons officials, who accompanied him, shut him up.

    But Charles and Rose were obviously angry that they were not allowed into the chambers.

    They waited outside the court premises while their daughter’s evidence was being taken.

    Ese, who recently gave birth to a baby girl, is still in the protective custody of the Bayelsa State Police Command.

  • Ese Oruru: Judge’s absence stalls trial

    Ese Oruru: Judge’s absence stalls trial

    The absence of Justice Aliya Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday stalled the ongoing trial of the Yunusa Dahiru, aka Yellow, who allegedly abducted and forcefully married 14-year-old Ese Oruru.

    Dahiru is standing trial for criminal abduction, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of Ese.

    Ese was allegedly kidnapped by Dahiru from Yenagoa Bayelsa State in August 2015 and taken to Kano State where she was converted to Islam and married without the consent of her parents.

    The 14-year-old girl on Thursday, last week, gave birth to a baby girl at the Bayelsa State Government House Clinic, Yenagoa.

    Justice Nganjiwa adjourned the matter to June 2 for hearing on the substantive suit, after granting the prosecution’s request to take the evidence of Ese in camera.

    But the court did not sit yesterday following reports that the trial judge was away for a meeting.

    As early as 9am, journalists and rights activists thronged the premises of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, but were later told that the judge was absent.

    Confirming the development, lead lawyer for the accused person, Kayode Olaosebikan, said he was not informed of the Judge’s absence.

    He added that he was only informed of the development on his arrival at the court.

    Olaosebekan said: “We are here in the court for the hearing but unfortunately, the presiding judge is absent and from what we have been told, he is out of the state to attend a meeting.

    “According to the information before us, a new date on the matter will be fixed on Monday, June 6.”

  • Ese Oruru … it’s a baby girl

    Ese Oruru … it’s a baby girl

    The  Baby of the Year? Of course, no; this is May. A royal baby? Again, no.

    But this is, no doubt, a very important “bundle of joy” whose birth has sparked various emotions.

    Miss Ese Oruru, the 14-year-old girl, who was allegedly kidnapped and put in the family way by Kano State-born Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow, was yesterday delivered of a baby girl in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    Ese gave birth at the Government House clinic at about 10.15am.

    Her father, Charles Oruru, who was obviously elated by the development, confirmed that Ese and her baby girl were fine.

    Ese was in Junior Secondary School when he was allegedly abducted in Bayelsa State last August and taken to Kano where she was converted to lslam and married without the consent of her parents.

    Following media pressure and public outcry, she was returned to Yenagoa.

     Ese’s father said the family was excited about the latest addition to the family, despite the circumstances surrounding her birth.

    He said the baby and the mother were doing well, adding that the young girl gave birth without much trouble.

    He said: “Yes, my daughter gave birth in the morning around a quarter past 10. The mother and the child are well. She gave birth to herself (a baby girl). We are very happy that she gave birth safely’’.

    Ese’s case is before federal high Court in Yenagoa, where her alleged kidnapper, Dahiru is facing a five-count charge of kidnapping, unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual exploitation of a minor.

    Dahiru has been in prison custody unable to fulfil the bail conditions slammed by the court headed by Justice Ajiya Nganjiwa.

  • Court to hear Ese’s evidence ‘in camera’

    Court to hear Ese’s evidence ‘in camera’

    Justice Aliya Ngajiwa of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday approved an application by lawyers to Ese Oruru, requesting the court to take the minor’s evidence in camera.

    The law permits courts to hear evidence in private in cases that would breach trade secrets, national security or matters involving minors.

    This implies that the media or people not directly involved in the matter would not be allowed in the court to hear the girl’s evidence on scheduled dates.

    Oruru, 14, was allegedly abducted, forcibly married and impregnated by Yunusa Dahiru alias Yellow, a Kano indigene.

    But Justice Nganjiwa, who cited many authorities, averred that it was trite for the court to make arrangement to hear any matter in private based on evidence before it.

    He said in the opinion of the court, the accused would lose nothing, if the evidence of the alleged victim, Oruru, was taken in private.

    He noted that the judge or magistrate may use his discretion if in the opinion of the court, the subject is below 18.

    He said alleged victims, especially in the case of rape and child trafficking can also be protected by the court, adding that the mother of the now heavily pregnant Oruru was able to show the court that her daughter was less than 18 years.

    He said: “What will the accused suffer if the victim‘s evidence is taken in private? I hereby order that the evidence should be taken in private and in the court chambers. The application hereby succeeds.”

    But the lead lawyer to the defendant, Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan, earlier maintained that there was no merit in taking Oruru’s evidence in private.

    He argued the identity of the minor and issues concerning the matter were already all over the Internet, print and electronic media.

     

  • Ese Oruru: Court grants Yunusa bail

    Ese Oruru: Court grants Yunusa bail

    •Activists seek justice for teenage girl 

    Yunusa Dahiru (aka Yellow), the man accused of abducting and forcefully marrying 14-year-old Ese Oruru from Bayelsa State, was yesterday granted bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Yunusa, who hails from Kano State, is standing trial on five-count of abduction, illicit sex and unlawful carnal knowledge of the teenager.

    The court, presided over by Justice H. A. Ngajiwa, resumed hearing to rule on a bail application filed by Yunusa’s five-man team of lawyers, led by Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan.

    The court was congested with curious persons from various walks of life to catch a glimpse of the embattled Yunusa.

    Even reporters had to stand throughout the period of the proceedings.

    Clad in a white T-shirt and long cream shorts, Yunusa looked emancipated. He bowed his head throughout the period of the proceedings.

    Ese’s parents, Charles and Rose; Chairman and members of the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), Chief Nengi James, Ankio Briggs, Alagoa Morris and the State Coordinator of Women of Excellence, Mrs. Tariere Gita, were in court for the proceedings.

    Justice Ngajiwa held that Yunusa’s offences were “bailable”, adding that the suspect be provided N3 million, two sureties – who must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction – and an undertaking that he would not jump bail.

    One of the sureties, the judge held, must be a renowned title holder and a public servant on Grade Level 12 and must provide first appointment and promotion letters.

    The judge also ordered that the sureties must provide their tax clearance certificates.

    Justice Ngajiwa’s verdict was based on an application deposed to by the defendant and supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit, in line with the rules of the court on whether or not Yunusa was entitled to bail.

    The judge said the application stipulates that the grounds for bail were within the discretion of the court, adding that in exercising the discretion, the court must act judicially and judiciously.

    He said Yunusa’s lawyers, in the application, argued that the accused remained innocent until proven guilty because he had no records of criminal behaviour and was not likely to jump bail.

    The lawyers argued that since the offence was “bailable” while there were people who were ready to stand surety for the suspect, Yunusa was entitled to bail.

    Justice Ngajiwa also faulted a 10-paragraph application opposing the bail filed by the prosecution.

    The judge said the argument of the prosecution that the accused would not come to trial since he is not resident in the state was defective and would not stop the merit of the bail.

    He cited sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act and Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), insisting that Yunusa’s offences were “bailable”.

    Justice Ngajiwa said: “In Section 36 (5), every person charged with a criminal offence is innocent until proven guilty. Investigations had been concluded and the accused denied committing the offence. He was living in Yenagoa till last August. The offence is ‘bailable’ and the court has discretion to grant the bail.”

    He added: “The offences charged are serious felonies but no matter how felonious, they will not stop the court from granting bail. The court will impose such conditions that will force the accused to come for his trial.”

    After the proceedings, Briggs, who is the founder of Agape Rights Organisation (ARO), said there were doubts that the state would diligently prosecute the case.

    The activist noted that Delta and Bayelsa states’ governors as well as other governors in the Niger Delta had not shown commitment to the matter.

    She said rights activists had not seen the team of lawyers Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson promised to provide to prosecute the case.

    Briggs 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 could 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? There are so many things that are personal. The circumstance in which she got pregnant is very offensive.

    “With all due respect, this case is volatile. It is a very serious case. I am not satisfied with the handling of the case by the Delta and Bayelsa state governments. Maybe it is because the parents are poor.”

    She described as offensive the claims by Yunusa’s lawyers that his affairs with Ese was like that of Romeo and Juliet, the characters in William Shakespeare’s play with the same title.

    She said: “Which kind Romeo and Juliet? Okay, all these people who are calling it Romeo and Juliet, let a Keke NAPEP driver kidnap their 13-year-old daughter and let them say they are in love.

    “What type of love is that? What sort of Romeo and Juliet is that? The law says a 13-year-old girl has no right to find herself in a position of Romeo and Juliet; full stop. This is what the law says.”

     

  • UPDATE: Ese Oruru: court grants Yunusa bail

    Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow, accused of abducting and forcefully marrying a 14-year-old Ese Oruru from Bayelsa State, was on Monday granted bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa.

    Yunusa, who hails from Kano State, is standing trial on five-count of abduction, illicit sex and unlawful canal knowledge of Ese.

    The court presided over by Justice H.A Ngajiwa resumed in Yenagoa to rule on a bail application filed by Yunusa’s five-man team of lawyers led by Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan.

    The court was congested as persons from different walks of life came to hear the matter and to catch a glimpse of the slim tall Yunusa.

    Seats were not enough as many observers especially journalists stood up while the proceeding lasted.

    Clad in white t-shirt and cream shorts, Yunusa, who was in the dock looked emaciated and bowed his head throughout the period of the proceeding.

    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, were present in court for the matter.

    The judge ruled that the felonies committed by Yunusa were bailable and asked the suspect 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.

    Ngajiwa’s verdict was based on application deposed by the defendant and supported by a seven-paragraph affidavit in line with the rules of the court on whether or not Yunusa was entitled to bail.

    The judge said the application averred that the grounds for bail were within the discretion of the court and in exercising that discretion the court must act judicially and judiciously.

    He said that Yunusa’s lawyers in the application argued that the accused person is innocent until proven guilty adding that Yunusa had no records of criminal behaviour and was not likely to jump bail.

    The lawyers argued that since the offence was bailable and there were people who were ready to stand surety for the suspect, Yunusa was entitled to bail.

    Ngajiwa also faulted a 10-paragraph application opposing the bail filed by the prosecution.

    He said the argument of the prosecution that the accused person would not come for trial since he is not resident in the state was defective and would not stop the granting of bail.

    He cited sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act  and Section 36 (5) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 as amended, and insisted that the felonies committed by Yunusa were bailable.

    He said: “In Section 36 (5), every person charged with criminal offence is innocent until proven guilty. Investigations had been concluded and the accused person denied committing the offence. He was living in Yenagoa till August 2015. The offence is bailable and the court has discretion to grant the bail”.

    He added: “The offences charged are serious felonies but no matter how felonious, it will not stop the court from granting bail. The court will impose such conditions that will force the accused person to come for his trial.”

    Speaking after the proceedings, the Ankio Briggs who is the founder of Agape Rights Organisation (ARO) said they were doubtful the state would ensure diligent prosecution of the case.

    She said beyond rhetoric, the Delta, Bayelsa states and all the governors in the Niger Delta region had not shown commitment to the matter.

    She further said they were yet to see the team of lawyers that the Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, promised he was going to constitute to help in the prosecution of the case.

    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”.

  • Ese Oruru: Yunusa granted bail

    Ese Oruru: Yunusa granted bail

    Yunusa Dahiru alias Yellow, who is standing trial on four-count of abduction of Ese Oruru has been granted bail.

    Details later