From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
EIGHTEEN--year-old Yunusa Dahiru, standing trial for alleged abduction, rape and sexual exploitation of Ese Oruru is finally out of prison on bail.
Justice Hyeladzira Ajiya Nganjiwa had granted Yunusa bail since March 21 but could not meet the bail conditions. Nganjiwa, who admitted him to a bail of N3 million and two sureties in like sum, said one of the sureties must be a title holder, while the second person must be a civil servant on grade level 12 or above.
The bail conditions also stipulated that the two sureties must submit their three years tax clearance receipts and that the defence counsel must sign an undertaking that the accused would not jump bail.
All efforts for him to meet the bail conditions failed as many of those approached to stand surety turned down the request forcing the defence counsel, Mr. Kayode Olaosibikan to file an application for variation of the bail conditions.
On June 22, Justice Nganjiwa heard the application for bail variation and ruled that the two sureties should be any Hausa leader in Bayelsa State and a level 9 civil servant within the jurisdiction of the court.
Daily Sun gathered that the family only succeeded to meet the bail conditions at the weekend as the court was able to verify the claims of the sureties and allowed Yunusa to leave Okaka prison. Olaosebikan confirmed Yunusa’s release on bail.
“We have been able to perfect his bail conditions. He is out of prison now,” Olaosibikan said in a message to Daily Sun.
Yunusa, immediately after his release from Okaka Prison in Yenagoa, left with some of his legal team to Kano to rejoin his family. He is expected back on September 13 when his trial resumes.