A Federal High Court in Jigawa State has adjourned to March 26 the hearing of an application seeking the unconditional release and reunion of a teenager, Walida Abdulhadi, with her family.
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Walida, a resident of Hadejia Local Government Area of the state, was allegedly abducted and sexually abused in 2023 by a Department of State Services operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi.
Recall that the case, which has generated public concern, was scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Dutse, the state capital.
However, proceedings could not continue after the defence counsel, Abdulmalik Sani, requested more time to file a counter-affidavit.
Sani told the court he needed additional time to respond to the prosecution’s application and gather relevant information.
During the session, the prosecution counsel, Kabir Adamu, informed the court that he was ready to proceed with the case.
Following the defence’s request, the presiding judge, Justice Hassan Dikko, adjourned the matter to March 26, 2026, for the hearing of preliminary objections and other pending applications.
“The respondents, through their lawyers, applied for a little time to put their house in order as they claimed they are preparing their counter-affidavit and need some information to set their records straight,” Adamu told PUNCH after the court session.
He explained that the prosecution was seeking the court’s intervention to compel the DSS to hand over the suspect, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, to the Jigawa State Commissioner of Police for proper investigation.
“We are in court to move the court to grant an application seeking the unconditional release of the victim and her reunion with her family,” Adamu said.
He argued that the involvement of the DSS in the investigation as an interested party could compromise the principle of fair hearing.
“You cannot be a judge in your own case,” Adamu added.
Our correspondent reports that the case has continued to spark outrage among residents and rights advocates, with concerns over the safety and welfare of the teenage girl, who is reportedly still being held in Abuja.
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