The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Yenagoa has clarified the reasons behind the delay in the trial of 13 domestic staff of former First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.
These staff members have been in detention at the Okaka Correctional Centre in Yenagoa since 2019.
The NBA explained that the delay was mainly due to procedural issues concerning the numerous lawyers representing the defendants.
The case, which carries the potential for capital punishment, requires all the defense lawyers to be present in court for it to proceed.
The NBA noted that the absence of any of the defense lawyers has caused setbacks.
According to the NBA Chairman, Somina Johnbull, the problem was not caused by the court but rather by the inconsistency of the lawyers showing up.
Johnbull also pointed out that with 13 defendants each having separate legal representation, the trial could not continue whenever one lawyer failed to attend.
He mentioned that there has never been a time when the court was not ready to hear the case.
The NBA Chairman expressed surprise at the length of time the trial has taken, noting that such cases typically do not drag on for more than a few years in Bayelsa due to modern facilities like the e-recording system.
He also revealed that during the last court session in April, the court offered to withdraw due to the public attention the case had attracted.
However, the defendants requested that the trial continue, showing trust in the court.
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