Ese Oruru’s abductor free on bail, arrives in Kano

Mr Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow, the young man who was accused of abducting 14-year-old Ese Oruru from Yenagoa in Bayelsa State, has finally left custody, after spending over four months in Okaka Prisons in the state capital.

It was learnt that Dahiru was immediately taken to his state, Kano, in company with a team of his defence lawyers, who usually flew into the state during court proceedings.

It was also learnt that contrary to speculations that no Bayelsa indigene was willing to stand surety for the suspect, due to whipped up ethnic and religious sentiments, the person who eventually fulfilled the court conditions was from Bayelsa State.

Dahiru’s team of lawyers had been battling to free their client from prison since March but without success.

The development followed the stringent bail conditions handed down to the suspect by Justice Ajiya Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa.

Justice Nganjiwa had set a N3 million bail bond and two sureties in like sum, resident within the jurisdiction of the court as conditions for Dahiru’s release.

He had also ordered that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler, while the second person 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 counsel must sign an undertaking that the suspect must not jump bail.

The Nigerian Tribune learnt that Justice Nganjiwa later relaxed the conditions, after he was approached by Dahiru’s lawyers that they were unable to meet some of the bail conditions.

Dahiru is currently facing a five-count charge of abducting, inducing by the use of deception and coercion, illicit intercourse, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor.

Lead counsel for Dahiru, Mr Kayode Olaosebikan, confirmed the release of his client, noting that “his people have taken him away.”

He added that the cross-examination of the girl (Ese) would continue in the next adjourned date.

Oruru was recently delivered of a baby girl and is still in the protective custody of the Bayelsa State Police Command, which is responsible for her upkeep in collaboration with the state government.

Her cross-examination by Yunusa’s lawyers will continue on September 13, 2016.