NBA Breaks Silence on Prolonged Trial of Patience Jonathan’s Domestic Staff in Yenagoa
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa branch, has shed light on the prolonged trial of 13 domestic staff of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who have been held at the Okaka Correctional Centre since 2019 without conclusion of their case.
Speaking during a press briefing on Monday ahead of the 2025 Law Week, branch chairman Somina Johnbull addressed mounting concerns over the stalled trial. He attributed the delay to the complex nature of the case, which involves charges carrying capital punishment and multiple defence counsels.
The Law Week, themed “Setting the Pace: Law, Leadership and Transformational Development,” is set to culminate in a keynote address by former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday, May 16.
Johnbull explained that each of the 13 defendants is represented by a different lawyer, making consistent court attendance a major challenge. “It’s a capital offence. The law requires that all counsel be present before proceedings can continue. Unfortunately, there has never been a day when all the defence lawyers showed up,” he said.
He emphasised that the delay was not due to any lapse on the part of the court. “We thoroughly investigated. The court has always been ready. But any time even one lawyer is absent, the case stalls,” Johnbull noted, describing the situation as “strange” given Bayelsa’s recent judicial advancements such as electronic court recording systems, which typically expedite legal processes.
Highlighting the strain the high-profile nature of the case has placed on the judiciary, Johnbull disclosed that during the last court appearance in April, the presiding judge offered to recuse himself due to the intense public attention the case has garnered. However, all 13 defendants requested the judge remain on the case, expressing confidence in the court’s impartiality.
“This matter would not ordinarily drag on for more than three to four years in Bayelsa, considering the technological improvements we’ve made in the judiciary. That it has persisted this long is unusual,” Johnbull concluded.
