Yunusa Dahiru, the alleged abductor of Ese Oruru, has been released on bail and reportedly taken to Kano.
Yunusa is facing a five-count charge of abduction, illicit intercourse, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor, Ese Oruru.
Confirming Yunusa’s release on Sunday in Yenagoa, his lawyer, Kayode Olaosebikan, said the accused family took him away. He did not disclose where he was taken to.
A source within the prison, who sought anonymity as he was not permitted to speak to journalists, also confirmed Yunusa’s release.
“Yunusa left custody of the Okaka prison, Bayelsa after spending over four months,” the source said on Sunday evening, adding that the accused was taken to Kano.
Yunusa’s legal team, which includes a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had battled since March to secure his release from prison following the bail conditions given by Justice Ajiya Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa.
Mr. Nganjiwa had set a N3 million bail bond and two sureties in like sum, resident within the jurisdiction of the court. He also ordered that one of the sureties must be a traditional title holder, while the second person must be a civil servant on Grade Level 12 or above.
The bail conditions also stipulated that the two sureties must submit their three-year tax clearance receipts and that the defence counsel must sign an undertaking that the accused would not jump bail.
However, the Judge later relaxed the conditions after he was approached by Yunusa’s lawyers that they could not meet some of the bail conditions.
The court reduced the bail conditions to a level nine civil servant and further granted the prayer of the defendant to also allow any traditional ruler from any community in the country to stand as surety.
Justice Nganjiwa had on Friday adjourned the trial to September 13 for further cross examination of Ese Oruru by Yunusa’s defence counsel.
