The trial of 13 former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan’s domestic staff members who have been detained at the Okaka Correctional Centre in Yenagoa since 2019 has been delayed, according to the Nigerian Bar Association.
In response to inquiries from reporters during Monday’s briefing on the events scheduled for 2025 Law Week, Somina Johnbull, the head of the Yenagoa NBA branch, stated that the case concerned the death penalty.
The theme for Law Week was “Setting the Pace: Law, Leadership and Transformational Development,” and on Friday, May 16, former Vice President Prof. Yomi Osinbajo is scheduled to give the keynote lecture.
Johnbull stated that due to the nature of the case, all attorneys need be present in court before it can progress; however, this was never the case.
He said that each of the 13 defendants had a separate attorney, and he said it was odd that a case like that could go on for so long in Bayelsa State given the availability of contemporary resources like electronic recording.
Johnbull disclosed that on the last day the case was called in April, the court volunteered to recuse itself because of the sensationalisation of the matter, but the defendants appealed that it should continue because they had confidence in the court.
He stated, “With regard to the case you spoke about, I want to say that the NBA investigated the case. We spoke with all the lawyers and the fault isn’t from the court. We had a situation where there were 13 defendants. The 13 defendants all have their different lawyers and any day, because it’s also a case that has capital punishment, any day that any of the lawyers don’t come (to court), the case cannot proceed.
“And we found out from the records that there was never a time this matter came up for hearing and the court wasn’t ready to hear the matter. This is a case that we have found somewhat strange. In Bayelsa, without sounding immodest, it is very strange for any matter to last beyond three, four years because of the facilities that have been provided, the e-recording system, and so, we find it strange, and then we investigated it.
“And, as a matter of fact, on the last day that the matter came up, I think the court even volunteered to recuse itself from the matter on account of the sensationalisation of that matter. All the defendants appealed that they still wanted the matter to proceed and that they had confidence in the court.”
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