Yunusa Dahiru, a.k.a. Yellow, the alleged abductor of 14-year-old Delta-born  Ese Oruru, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court on a five-count charge of abduction, kidnapping, unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual exploitation.

 He appeared in court in a relaxed mood and was arraigned before Honourable Justice H.A. Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa at about 10.00 a.m. on Tuesday, in a case with Charge No FHC/YNG/17c/2016, which was between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Vs Yunusa Dahiru, aged 18 years.

 Prior to his arraignment on Tuesday, a special prosecutor from the Police Force headquarters in Abuja had arrived Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital ahead preparations for the formal arraignment over his alleged mastermind of the abduction of Ese Oruru from Bayelsa to Kano State and forcefully marrying her and converting her to Islam.

 The special prosecutor, who arrived in Bayelsa on Saturday, was reported to have met with the Suspect, Dahiru and the victim, Oruru for official obtaining of statements.

 The charges read: “That you, Yunusa Dahiru, male, of Opolo-Epie, with Dankano Mohammed, Mallam Alhassan, presently at large, between the months of August 2015 and February 2016 at Oplo-Epie in Yenagoa Judicial Division of the Federal High Court did conspire among yourselves 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 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, aged 14 years, by means of coercion, transported and harboured herein, Kano State and thereby, committed an offence punishable under section 13 (2) (b)of the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

 “That you, Yunusa Dahiru 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 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 section15 (a) of the Trafficking in Persons (prohibition) Enforcement Administration Act, 2015.

 “That you, Yunusa Dahiru 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, 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 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 had unlawful carnal knowledge of one Rita Ese Oruru, 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 reading the charges, the accused person, Dahiru, pleaded not guilty before the court, while the case was adjourned till March 14 for hearing on the bail application by his counsel, Kayode Olaoshebikan.

Speaking with newsmen later after he left the court unruffled, Yunusa said he had been dating Ese before they both left for Kano, saying his mother was aware of the illicit relationship.

He admitted being responsible for Ese’s five-month-old pregnancy, but said she did not know how old the pregnancy was, as he started sleeping with her months before they both left for Kano.

When probed further, he said it was only the father that was not aware of their relationship, but the mother knew that they were both seeing each other.

Speaking, the counsel for Yunusa, Olaoshebikan said there was no case, “it is easy for the prosecution to bring up charges, but Yunusa has pleaded not guilty and it is left for the prosecution to prove their case beyond every reasonable doubt.

“It is a case of two love birds and in our social parlance, we call it elopement, but government and the state preferred to call it abduction and it is left for the court to decide whether it is abduction or elopement of two minors.”

Prosecuting counsel, Kenneth Dika, said the state was ready to prove its case against the accused with its six witnesses.

Emir of Kano expresses dismay over Ese saga’s reportage

The Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, has expressed dismay at the way some sections of the media have been reporting Ese Oruru’s incident, warning that the “dangerous trend” was capable of threatening national stability.

He then called on individuals and groups, who are trying to create disunity among the various ethnic groups in the country to stop, in the interest of the nation.

Sanusi, who also reiterated the commitment of his palace to ensuring sanity be restored to Islam, urged Nigerians to desist from any move that could cause disharmony in the country.

Emir Sanusi made the submission when he received a delegation of Halleluyah Assembly International Church, led by its General Overseer, Pastor Victor Majekodunmi Akure, at his palace.

The Emir, who once again used the occasion to exonerate the palace and the entire Kano Emirate Council from the ugly incident, described the incident as unfortunate and cautioned those promoting disharmony with the ugly development, to desist.

However, Emir Sanusi commended Pastor Akure for championing peaceful co-existence among Christians and Muslims in the country.

Pastor Akure, however, thanked the Emir for receiving him and disclosed that his visit was primarily conceived to pray for the peace and progress of the state.