Yunusa Dahiru, alleged abductor of Ese Oruru was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Yenagoa on Tuesday charged with abduction, kidnapping, unlawful carnal knowledge and sexual exploitation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Yunusa was arraigned before Justice H. A. Nganjiwa amid tight security.
According to charge sheet No: FHC/YNG/17c/2016, the case is between the Inspector General of Police and Yunusa Dahiru ‘M’, aged 18.
When the charges were read to him, Yunusa pleaded not guilty to them.
Counsel for the prosecution, Mr Kenneth Dika, said the state was ready to prove its case against the accused.
Dika said the state was ready with six witnesses to ensure successful prosecution of the case.
Counsel to Yunusa, Mr Kayode Olaoshebikan, applied for bail for his client, adding “I am confident of winning the case. In fact, there is no case.
“It is easy for the prosecution to bring up charges but Yunusa as a man has pleaded not guilty and it is left for the prosecution to prove their case beyond every reasonable doubt.
“It is a case of two love birds. In our social parlance, we call it elopement, but government and the state prefer to call it abduction and it is left for the court to decide whether it is abduction or elopement of two minors.
“Yunusa is 18 years old and the girl in question is 14 years old,” Olashebikan said.
The case was adjourned to March 14 for hearing of the bail application by Olaoshebikan. (NAN)