Bayelsa Court grants secret trial request for Ese Oruru

The Federal High Court, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday, has approved the request by the prosecution to take the evidence of Miss Ese Oruru in private.

Young Miss Oruru, it could be recalled was abducted by the defendant, Yunusa Dahiru, alias Yellow to Kano.

Ese, who is presently 14-year-old girl, was allegedly abducted by Yellow in August 2015 from her home in Bayelsa State and was forced into marriage.

 Her forced marriage followed after her conversion to Islam.

Yunusa is currently standing trial at the court on five counts of alleged criminal abduction, illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor.

At the resumed pre-trial hearing, Justice Aliya Nganjiwa considered that Ese is a minor and gives the prosecution the green light.

In granting the application, the judge premised the ruling of the court on the provisions of Section 36 subsections 4 (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

He said: “The evidence of Miss Ese Oruru will be taken by the court in private and in chambers excluding all other persons other than the prosecution, the defendant’s counsels, court clerks and prison officials and any other persons if the accused person does not object.”

Justice Nganjiwa also reasoned that the defence counsel failed to show what injury or harm the accused person would suffer on account of the proposed private hearing.

“What will the accused suffer if the victim‘s evidence is taken in private? 

“I hereby order that the evidence should be taken in private and in the court chambers. 

“The application hereby succeeds,” Ngajiwa said in his ruling.

He added that it was only the evidence of Ese that would be taken in private as other trials would be done in open court.

Justice Nganjiwa later adjourned the matter until June 2, for hearing on the substantive suit.

The substantive suit, however, would be conducted in public.

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