The Federal High Court in Yenagoa today adjourned Ese Oruru’s abduction case to December 8, even as her parents kicked against her continued ‘detention’ in protective police custody.
Charles and Rose Oruru lamented that it was an irony of sorts that while the accused was enjoying freedom on bail, the victim was being denied freedom under the guise of protection.
Ese,14, gave birth to a baby girl on May 25 in police care at the Police Officers Mess in Yenagoa, where she remains.
It would be recalled that Yunusa Dahiru, the father of her baby, was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Yenagoa on March 8 on charges of criminal abduction, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor.
Mr. Oruru, expressed sadness over his daughter's stay at the police officers mess with the baby, saying that she is supposed to be in school.
"My daughter has been yearning and even crying to go back to school as her classmates are now ahead of her, she has lost a whole year to this saga, and she is still in police protective custody while the accused is enjoying freedom on bail
Appealing to the Delta State government, the federal government and the world to come to their aid, he said, "Nowadays without education one is going nowhere, so she is not doing anything in their custody, while the accused moves freely and she is suffering there.”
He explained that his appeal to his state government for assistance is because he has five children, of which Ese is the penultimate one.
Rose Oruru added that Ese is not receiving proper care as one nursing a baby, with regards to nutrition and psychological care in a homely environment.
"People from Bayelsa have been assisting us and even the police officers; we want to leave there to our house because the [Police Officers Mess] is not a good place to stay and bring up a new born baby.”
She said the family has simply been abandoned in a smelly room and are not allowed to go out.
“We stay with our trash bin which is smelling, we and the newborn baby are compelled to breathe the offensive smell.
"So the world should note that we are being marginalized for no reason, as the boy Yunusa is still owing me some money after taking my daughter to Kano to impregnate her for me," she lamented.
Counsel to the accused, Kayode Olaosebikan, who was in court with Yunusa, who is out on bail, said no information was given as to the reason for the court’s failure to sit.
He explained that the case was however adjourned till December 8 for further hearing.
