Court adjourns hearing on Yunusa Dahiru's bail application

Yunusa Dahiru was arraigned today before a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital on a five-count charge bordering on abduction, coercion, seduction into illicit intercourse, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of Ese Oruru.

Count 1 reads: "That you Yunusa Dahiru ‘m’ of Opolo-Epie with Dankano Mohammed ‘m’, Mallam Alhassan ‘m’ presently at large between the months of August 2015 and February 2016 at Opolo-Epie Yenagoa in the 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."

Count 2 reads: "That you Yunusa Dahiru ‘m’ 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 abducted one Rita Ese Oruru ‘f’ aged 14 years by means of coercion, transported and harboured her in Kano State and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 13 (2) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015."

Count 3 reads: "That you Yunusa Dahiru ‘m’ 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 ‘f’ aged 14 years by the use of deception and coercion to go with you from Yenagoa to Kano State with the 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."

Count 4 reads: “That you Yunusa Dahiru ‘m’ 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 procured one Rita Ese Oruru ‘f’ 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 Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015."

Count 5 reads: "That you Yunusa Dahiru ‘m’ 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 had unlawful carnal knowledge of one Rita Ese Oruru ‘f’ aged 14 years without her consent and thereby committed and offense 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 Nigeria, 2004."

Mr. Yunusa pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The court therefore adjourned till Monday, March 14 for hearing on bail application.