Court ready to rule on Private questioning of teenager

dimeji akinloye

April 19, 2016 5:10 PM

The teenager's counsel, Kenneth Dike, had filed an application seeking the court to allow Ese's evidence be taken in private since she is a minor.

Ese Oruru in Abuja

A Federal High Court in Yenagoa, has fixed May 12 to determine whether it will take the evidence of

Oruru's alleged kidnapping, which received national attention and was widely reported in the media, occurred on August 12, 2015, at her mother's shop in Yenagoa local government area, Bayelsa State.

The young girl, who was 13 years old at the time was allegedly abducted by one Yunusa Dahiru and taken to Kano, where she was forced into marriage and converted to Islam.

Yunusa is standing trial on charges including illegally having carnal knowledge of the 15-year-old.

The teenager's counsel, Kenneth Dike, had filed an application seeking the court to allow Ese's evidence be taken in private since she is a minor.

The judge, Aliya Nganjiwa, while adjourning the case for ruling, said the court would ensure that justice prevails in the matter.

“We are sitting for the constitutional right of the victim, and for fair trial,” Dike said.

“For the interest of justice, we must protect her image and future.

“We are seeking the leave of the court to take the evidence of the victim in private, excluding every other persons except the parties and their counsel,” Dike said.

But Defence Counsel, Kayode Olaosebikan, opposed the application, saying there was no merit in taking evidence in private.

READ: Abducted teenager, Ese, reportedly 5 months pregnant

He said the pictures of the victim, are already on the internet and other media platforms.

On the bail condition, Olaosebikan said the defence could not meet the bail conditions.

“We were unable to meet the condition that the sureties must be residents in Yenagoa, so, it has been difficult for us to bail Yunusa,” he said.

Yunusa is expected to remain in custody till May 12.

dimeji akinloye