Funmi Adedoyin, a legal practitioner, has condemned the “delayed trial” of several former domestic workers of ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan, who are still detained in the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State for stealing jewelries.
She stated that the case was recently deferred twice—on June 25 and 26—following the kidnapping of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro of the Bayelsa State High Court on June 21 in front of an eatery in Yenagoa, the state capital.
In April, Saturday PUNCH reported that the case had been delayed 40 times.
The defendants appeared in court in Yenagoa in 2019.
They were accused of stealing seven gold bangles and other jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstered chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions worth ₦200 million belonging to Jonathan.
They were also accused of conspiracy to commit murder, felony, armed robbery, burglary, and theft, among other crimes.
The accused are Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Emmanuel Aginwa, Erema Deborah, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Achese, Sunday Reginald, Vivian Golden, Emeka Benson, Boma Oba, Salomi Wareboka, and Sahabi Lima.
Speaking with PUNCH, Adedoyin complained that the accused had been imprisoned for six years.
The lawyer voiced concern with the trial’s continuous delays, highlighting the impact on the defendants’ quest for justice.
She said, “We are not happy about these delays, and that is why we have been doing our best to carry on with the legal advocacy to ensure justice is upheld in the matter.
“We want them to get justice on time, as we have had over 40 adjournments already in the matter. We will continue to support them.”
Adedoyin pledged that the group would persist until they achieved justice.
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She said, “We hope with these advocacies, the case will go on and the people will get justice.”
Speaking on the recent adjournments, Adedoyin stated, “The case has not been going on. The last time it was supposed to come up was 26 and 27 June. The court did not sit because of the matter in Bayelsa State where a judge was kidnapped. It is an act of solidarity. Till now, we have not been able to get a date. In the last two adjournments, the matter did not go on.”
The sister of one of the accused, Gladys Achese, decried the imprisonment of her sister and the prolonged trial of the defendants.
She said, “We are sad. The case is just dragging. They didn’t go to court throughout last month. Hopefully, if they go this month, they will not go at all in August because there will be a break.
“So, we do not know when the next court session will open. Time is not waiting. We do not know the next approach to take. It is frustrating.”
