A legal practitioner, Funmi Adedoyin, has raised alarm over the prolonged detention and stalled trial of several former domestic workers of Nigeria’s former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who have spent six years in custody at the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State…CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
The defendants were arraigned in 2019 before the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa. They are facing multiple serious charges, including theft, conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, burglary, and stealing. The allegations involve luxury items such as seven gold bangles, other jewellery, Samsung electronics, and furniture reportedly valued at N200 million.
According to Adedoyin, the case has suffered at least 40 adjournments since its inception, significantly delaying any prospect of justice for the accused. Most recently, the trial scheduled for June 25 and 26 was halted following the abduction of the presiding judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, on June 21 in Yenagoa. In response to the incident, court activities were suspended in solidarity with the kidnapped judge.
Adedoyin expressed concern over the impact of these repeated delays, especially on the mental and emotional wellbeing of the detainees and their families. She noted that no new court date has been fixed since the judge’s abduction.
“The case has not been going on. The last time it was supposed to come up was June 26 and 27, but the court didn’t sit due to the judge’s abduction,” she said. “Till now, we have not been able to get a new date. We are not happy about these delays. That is why we are doing our best through legal advocacy to ensure justice is upheld.”
She affirmed that her legal team, along with supporting organizations, remains dedicated to pursuing timely justice.
“We want them to get justice on time,” Adedoyin said. “We will continue to support them until justice is done.”
Also speaking on the issue, Gladys Achese, sister to one of the detainees, described the situation as both frustrating and emotionally exhausting.
“They didn’t go to court throughout last month. If the matter does not go on this July, then we know there won’t be any progress in August due to the court vacation. We are worried because we don’t know when the next session will be,” she said.
As the judiciary awaits the full resumption of court activities, the case remains in limbo, with no new trial date currently in sight.
