Federal High Court Orders DSS to Release Jigawa Teen, Hands Operative to Police for Probe
The Federal High Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State, has issued a landmark order directing the Department of State Services (DSS) to release Walida Abdulhadi, a 16‑year‑old resident of Hadejia Local Government Area, unconditionally. The court further ordered the DSS to produce its operative, Ifeanyi Onyewuenyi, accused of abducting and sexually abusing the teenager in 2023, and hand him over to the Jigawa State Police Command for investigation.
Abdulhadi, who was allegedly held in the custody of Onyewuenyi, has since given birth to a baby girl. The case has attracted significant public attention within and outside Jigawa State.
On 26 March 2026, the Federal High Court adjourned judgment after hearing submissions from both prosecution and defence counsel.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Hassan Dikko condemned the DSS for shielding its officer and attempting to conduct its own investigation.
The court held that under the National Security Agency Act, the DSS lacks legal authority to investigate criminal allegations of this nature against its personnel.
Justice Dikko declared: “The conduct of the DSS in hiding and shielding an officer accused of this terrible crime is condemnable.”
He emphasized that only the police and the courts have jurisdiction to investigate and adjudicate criminal matters of this kind.
The court subsequently ordered the immediate and unconditional release of Walida Abdulhadi, that the DSS, produce it’s operative, Onyewuenyi to the Jigawa State Police Command for thorough investigation, and nullification of any purported internal investigation by the DSS into the allegations.
Reacting to the judgment, Kabiru Adamu, counsel to Walida’s family, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a restoration of faith in the judiciary: “We welcome this judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Dutse, Jigawa State, because it has confirmed that the court remains the last hope of the common man.”
Adamu urged the police to act swiftly to ensure a transparent and speedy investigation.
Efforts to obtain immediate reaction from DSS defence counsel proved abortive.
Earlier, the Hadejia Magistrate Court had ordered the DSS to release Walida to her parents and hand over Onyewuenyi to the Commissioner of Police.
The DSS countered by filing a suit at the Federal High Court, seeking to prevent execution of the magistrate’s order.
The Federal High Court has now affirmed the magistrate’s directive and reinforced the police’s investigative jurisdiction.
