Court Bars Journalists, Parents as Ese Begins Evidence in Private

Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Journalists as well as parents of Ese, Rose and Charles Oruru, were on Wednesday barred from the courtroom as the Justice Njiya Ngajiwa-led federal high court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, began taking evidence from the minor in private.

Justice Ngajiwa had earlier in the morning ‘’stood down’’ the case for about four hours to allow him dispose of all other matters for the day before acceding to the prosecution’s plea for the teenager’s evidence to be extracted in camera.

At the time of filing this report, Ese who was brought to the court and was heavily shielded from the press, was still being grilled by lawyers to Yinusa Dahiru, his alleged abductor, who reportedly impregnated her.

Only lawyers representing Dahiru, who is facing a five-count charge in case No FHC/YNG/17c/2016, between the Inspector General of Police, IGP versus Yinusa Dahiru and the legal team representing the federal government were allowed inside the chambers.

Dahiru, a Kano indigene, is being accused of abduction, inducing Miss Oruru, aged 14 years, by the use of deception and coercion, illicit intercourse, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge.

While the IGP was represented by Mr. Kenneth Dika, Deme Pamosoo and Joy Wokpe of the International Federation of Women lawyers, a non-governmental organisation, stood in for Ese.

The defendant, Dahiru, also known as Yellow, was represented by Mr. Kayode Olaosebikan, Abdul Mohammed and Oyebiyi Towo.

Before the private session, Dahiru, who was jokingly asked how he was feeling after he heard that Ese had given birth, insisted that Ese was his wife. ‘’ I don’t want to talk, but she’s my wife’’, he told newsmen, before he was silenced by the prison officials who accompanied him to the court.

Parents of the alleged victim, Charles and Rose, who were obviously agitated that they were not allowed into the chambers, waited outside the court premises while their daughter’s evidence was being taken.