Court Slams DSS Over Detention Of 16-Year-Old Girl In Jigawa

According to Ireporter Online, the Federal High Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State, has ordered the immediate release of a 16-year-old girl, Walida Abdulhadi, from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), while also directing that a DSS operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, be handed over to the Jigawa State Police Command for investigation.

The ruling followed claims that the teenager, a resident of Hadejia Local Government Area, was abducted and sexually abused by the DSS operative in 2023. It was further alleged that she became pregnant while in custody and has since delivered a baby girl, a development that has continued to generate widespread public concern.

The case, which has attracted significant attention within and outside Jigawa State, had earlier been adjourned on March 26 after both the prosecution and defence completed their arguments.

Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Hassan Dikko ordered the immediate release of the minor without any conditions and directed that the accused operative be produced and transferred to the Jigawa State Police Command for thorough investigation.

The judge strongly criticised the DSS over allegations of shielding its operative, describing the alleged actions as unacceptable. He stated that the agency’s reported attempt to conduct an internal investigation into the matter was invalid, stressing that the DSS lacks legal authority to investigate criminal allegations involving its personnel.

Justice Dikko further emphasised that only the police and the courts are empowered under the law to handle such criminal matters, particularly those of a serious nature.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the victim’s family, Kabiru Adamu, described the ruling as a victory for justice and due process, noting that it reinforces public confidence in the judiciary as the final hope of the ordinary citizen. He urged the police to ensure a prompt, transparent, and thorough investigation once the suspect is handed over.

The latest ruling follows an earlier order by a Magistrate Court in Hadejia, which had also directed the unconditional release of the teenager and the transfer of the suspect to the police. However, the DSS had challenged that order at the Federal High Court, seeking to halt its enforcement before Tuesday’s judgment reaffirmed the directive.