By: Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
A Federal High Court sitting in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, has adjourned to March 26, 2026, the hearing of an application seeking the unconditional release and reunion of Walida Abdulhadi with her family.
Walida was allegedly abducted from Hadejia Local Government Area and sexually molested by one Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, said to be an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The presiding judge, Justice Hassan Dikko, fixed the new date following a request by defence counsel, Mr Abdulmalik Sani, who sought an extension of time to file a counter-affidavit in response to the application filed by the plaintiff.
When the matter was called, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Kabir Adamu, informed the court that he was ready to proceed with the case and to move the application seeking the unconditional release of the victim and her reunification with her family.
The plaintiff is also asking the court to compel the DSS to hand over the suspect, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, to the Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State for further investigation.
After hearing submissions from both parties, Justice Dikko adjourned the matter to March 26, 2026, for the hearing of preliminary objections and all pending applications.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the court session, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Adamu, said the legal team approached the court to seek justice for the victim.
“We are in court to move an application seeking the unconditional release and reunification of the victim with her family. We are also asking the court to compel the DSS to hand over the suspect, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, to the Commissioner of Police in Jigawa State for discreet investigation,” he said.
Adamu further stated that the plaintiff was asking the court to set aside all actions taken by the DSS in relation to the matter, arguing that the agency, being an interested party, should not be allowed to investigate the case.
“You cannot be a judge in your own case. The respondents, through their counsel, asked for time to put their house in order, saying they are preparing their counter-affidavit and need to properly clarify their records,” he added.
