EXCLUSIVE: Court Adjourns Indefinitely Trial Of Patience Jonathan’s 14 Ex-Domestic Workers Detained Since 2019, Languishing In Jail Over Non-Appearance Of Prosecution
EXCLUSIVE: Court Adjourns Indefinitely Trial Of Patience Jonathan’s 14 Ex-Domestic Workers Detained Since 2019, Languishing In Jail Over Non-Appearance Of Prosecution The latest setback means the defendants, who have…
The trial of 14 former domestic workers of ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan has suffered another delay at the Bayelsa State High Court. The prosecution lawyer reportedly failed to appear on September 22, despite the case having been adjourned for the defence to conclude its evidence. As a result, the hearing could not proceed and no new date had been fixed at the time of the report.
The defendants have been in custody since 2019, facing allegations linked to the alleged theft of jewellery and other valuables reportedly worth about ₦200 million. They have denied the allegations and some have told the court that statements used against them were obtained through alleged torture and coercion. The case has reportedly been adjourned more than 40 times, while one of the original defendants, Sahabi Liman, died after becoming seriously ill in custody.
The latest postponement has renewed concerns about the length of the proceedings and the continued detention of some of the accused. The defence was expected to conclude its case, but the prosecution's absence means the defendants must wait for another hearing date before the trial can move forward. The case remains pending before the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa.