Court orders DSS to release Jigawa teen, surrender operative for probe

A Federal High Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State, has ordered the Department of State Services to release a Jigawa teenager, Walida Abdulhadi, unconditionally and hand over its operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, to the police for investigation.

 Online gathered that Abdulhadi, a 16-year-old resident of Hadejia Local Government Area, was allegedly abducted and sexually abused by Onyewuenyi, a DSS operative, in 2023.

The girl has since given birth to a baby girl while in the custody of the suspect and since the case became public, it has drawn attention within and outside Jigawa State.

The FHC had, on March 26, adjourned judgment on the case to Monday, after listening from both sides of the prosecution and the defence counsel.

While delivering judgment on Tuesday in the case, the trial judge, Justice Hassan Dikko, directed the DSS to release the girl without any condition.

Justice Dikko also ordered the secret service to produce Onyewuenyi and hand him over to the Jigawa State Police Command for thorough investigation.

Delivering the verdict, the judge condemned the DSS for allegedly shielding its officer accused of committing the “heinous act.”

The court further set aside any investigation the DSS claimed to be conducting on its officer.

Justice Dikko held that the DSS lacked the legal power to investigate its own officer in such a case under the National Security Agency Act that established it.

“The conduct of the DSS in hiding and shielding an officer accused of this terrible crime is condemnable,” the judge declared.

He stressed that only the police and the courts have jurisdiction to handle criminal allegations of this nature.

Reacting to the judgment, Walida’s family lawyer, Kabiru Adamu, welcomed the decision, saying “the ruling had restored hope in the judiciary.”

“We welcome this judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State, because it has confirmed that the court remains the last hope of the common man,” Adamu said.

He added that the verdict would help ensure justice and due process in line with the law.

Adamu called on the police to act swiftly once the officer is handed over, to ensure a transparent and speedy investigation.

Efforts by PUNCH to speak with the defence counsel for the DSS immediately after the verdict proved abortive.

Earlier, the Hadejia Magistrate Court had directed the DSS to release Walida to her parents without conditions, and hand over the suspected DSS officer, Onyewuenyi, to the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police for investigation.

The DSS had countered the magistrate court’s order by filing a suit at the Federal High Court, seeking to prevent the execution of the order.