The hearing of the case of 14 year-old Ese Oruru who was allegedly abducted from Bayelsa state has been shifted to December 8, 2016.
The postponement follows the absence of the presiding judge of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, the state capital, on Monday.
Although both the prosecuting counsel and the defense team were present in the court for continuation of the hearing, no reason was given by the court officials on the absence of the judge.
The accused, Dairu Yinusa who is currently on bail was also present in court and his lawyer, Mr Kayode Olaosebikan, told journalists that he is eager to have the case concluded.
Meanwhile, the parents of Ese Oruru who were also present in court expressed concern over the outcome of the case, as well as the education and living conditions of their daughter and her baby, owing to their inability to adequately cater for their needs.
Dairu is accused of conspiring to abduct Ese to Kano and is facing a five-count charge of criminal abduction, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge of a minor.
He pleaded not guilty to all. A lawyer in the defense counsel’s team said they believed it was a ‘typical case of Romeo and Juliet’ and that they do not believe that Ese was 13 years old at the time of the incident.
Charges against Yunusa were filed after Miss Oruru was handed over to her parents after six months of her alleged abduction.
He was granted bail of three million Naira and two sureties of like sum who were asked to present three years tax clearance receipts.