•Walida Abdulhadi
A Federal High Court in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to hand over Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, its operative accused of abducting and forcefully impregnating Walida Abdulhadi, a teenager, to the police for investigation.
It was earlier reported how Onyewuneyi allegedly abducted the 16-year-old Walida from Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa State, molested and forcefully converted her to Christianity.
Walida later gave birth to a baby girl, but following a mounting public pressure and condemnation, the DSS handed over the teenager to the Jigawa State Government, reports Daily Trust.
However, delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Hassan Dikko, ordered unconditional release of the teenager and directed the DSS to hand over Onyewuenyi to the police for a full investigation.
The ruling also dismissed any internal investigation previously claimed to have been conducted by the DSS, describing the agency’s actions as an attempt to shield its operative from accountability.
Justice Dikko characterized the alleged conduct as “condemnable,” underscoring the seriousness of the accusations.
Counsel to the teenager’s family, Kabiru Adamu, described the judgment as a victory not just for his client but for the rule of law.
He said, “This ruling reinforces public confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.”
He urged 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.
