Justice Hassan Dikko of the Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to hand over its operative Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, who allegedly and forcefully kidnapped and impregnated teenage Walida Abdulhadi, to the police for investigation.
Justice Dikko, who gave the order on Tuesday, also directed that Walida should be released unconditionally.
The court further ordered the DSS to hand over Onyewuenyi to the police for a full investigation, just as it also dismissed any internal investigation previously claimed to have been conducted by the DSS, saying the agency’s actions was an attempt to shield its operative from accountability.
Justice Dikko described the alleged conduct as “condemnable.”
Counsel to the teenager’s family, Kabiru Adamu, said the judgment was a victory not just for his client but for the rule of law, adding that “this ruling reinforces public confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.”
He told the police to ensure a transparent and timely investigation once the suspect is handed over.
A Magistrate’s Court in Hadejia had ordered the release of the teenager and the transfer of the suspect to the police, a directive that was contested by the DSS at the Federal High Court.
Onyewuenyi reportedly kidnapped Walida from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State, molested and forcefully converted her to Christianity.
Walida later gave birth to a baby girl which sparked public outrage, pressure and condemnation, as the DSS handed over the teenager to the Jigawa State Government.
