The trial of 13 domestic staff of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who have been in detention at the Okaka Correctional Centre in Yenagoa since 2019, has faced repeated delays due to the absence of lawyers in court. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, provided this explanation, stating that all the lawyers representing the defendants must be present for the case to proceed, especially because the charges carry a potential death sentence.
According to NBA Yenagoa Chairman, Mr. Somina Johnbull, the case has been held up for over four years, a situation he described as unusual, given the modern court facilities available in Bayelsa State, including an e-recording system. He noted that while the court was ready to hear the case, the absence of any lawyer on a given day meant the trial could not continue.
Johnbull further explained that on the last occasion the case was called in April, the court offered to recuse itself due to media attention, but the defendants insisted on continuing with the trial, expressing confidence in the court.
The NBA also emphasized that it had investigated the matter and found that the delay was not due to any fault of the court. Despite the long wait, the defendants remain hopeful that the trial will soon resume.
In related news, the NBA’s Yenagoa Branch has lined up events for its annual Law Week, with former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo scheduled to deliver the keynote address on May 16, focusing on “Law, Leadership, and Transformational Development.”
