Ese Abduction: Yunusa Remanded, Admits Impregnating Ese

On the sidelines of his arraignment today, Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow, the young man who allegedly abducted, converted to Islam and forcefully married 14-year old Ese Oruru, admitted impregnating the teenager, but pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the five-count charges preferred against him by the Nigerian government.

Dahiru, himself 18, who was brought before Justice H.A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, the police said, was being prosecuted for criminal abduction, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge.

The Kano State-born Dahiru was brought before the court under very tight security in the charge No FHC/YNG/17c/2016 between the Inspector General of Police, IGP, versus Yinusa Dahiru.
Dahiru, who wore a yellow caftan and brown cap, appeared quite relaxed in court after he was brought before the court in the morning.

The young man noted that he had been dating Ese before they both left for kano, saying that his mother was aware of the illicit relationship.
He admitted being responsible for Ese’s five-month pregnancy, but said that he could not say how old the pregnancy was.
A Special Police Prosecutor, Kenneth Dika, who was reported to have met with the Suspect, Dahiru and the victim, 14 years old, Ese Oruru for their official statements, signed the charge sheet in the suit.
Among others, the charges against the accused , according to the police prosecution, were “That Yunusa Dahiru a male resident in Opolo-Epie area of Yenagoa in Bayelsa State conspired with the duo of Dankano Mohammed and Mallam Alhassan between August 2015 and February, 2016 to commit an offence of abduction and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 27(a) of the Trafficking in persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015’’, the charges opened.

“That Yunusa Dahiru induced Ese Oruru 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 and Administration Act,2015

“That you Yunusa Dahiru procured Ese Oruru and subjected her into sexual exploitation in Kano State and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 16(1) of the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act,2015.
After listening to the police prosecutor and the lawyer to the accused, Kayode Olaosebikan, the judge adjourned the matter to March 14 , but not before remanding the accused in prison custody till the adjourned date.

Dahiru’s case gained both national and international prominence recently when he allegedly abducted the young woman from her base in Bayelsa, an action which generated serious condemnation from human rights bodies, child rights organizations, lawyers and parents.