Environmental and human rights activist, Annkio Briggs, on Monday alleged lack of diligent prosecution of Yunusa Dahiru alias Yunusa Yellow, who is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Mr. Dahiru was on March 8, 2016 arraigned by the police on charges of abduction, kidnapping, unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual exploitation.
The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.
He had legal representation by a team of six solicitors led by Kayode Olaosebikan.
It would be recalled that Mr. Dahiru, a tricycle operator, was arrested in Kano State on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, for allegedly abducting a 13-year-old girl, Ese Oruru, from her parents in Bayelsa, and whisking her to Kano where he reportedly married and converted her to his religion.
Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES shortly after the accused was granted bail yesterday by the court in the sum of N3 million, Ms. Briggs wondered why the defence team was more fortified.
Briggs, who is the founder of non-governmental organization, Agape Birthrights and convener of Niger-Delta Self Determination Movement (NDSDM), charged the police to live up to expectation and draft more lawyers to beef up the legal team to prosecute the case.
“I am not at all satisfied at the way this matter is going, this is a very sensitive case, if it was someone that went to Kano to abduct a 13-year old, the country would have been on fire by now.
“The Bayelsa and Delta state governors have not done anything to support the prosecution of this matter, abandoning the prosecution to the Police, who from what I saw in court, is not good enough.
“How come Yunusa, a Keke driver has a more formidable legal team comprising of good lawyers. I hear the defense team has up to 10 lawyers. Is he the one hiring the lawyers?” Briggs asked.
Meanwhile, a mild drama played out inside the court yesterday when the presiding judge, Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa granted Mr. Dahiru bail with stringent conditions.
Aside the N3 million bail bond, the judge ordered the accused to produce two sureties in like sum, who must present three years tax-clearance receipts to be verified by the Court Registrar.
The two sureties, who must be within the jurisdiction of the Court, must also be a title holder and a civil servant of grade 12 above.
Immediately the presiding Judge gave his ruling on the bail, Mr. and Mrs. Oruru stormed out of the court premises.
