Bayelsa state High Court has ordered a fast-tracked trial for 15 domestic workers who have spent nearly six years in detention at the Okaka Correctional Centre, Yenagoa, without conviction, over missing jewellery belonging to former First Lady Patience Jonathan.
The 15 accused persons were arrested in 2019 and were allegedly detained without bail, while the case dragged on for years amid reports of consistent manipulation of court processes.
However, the new order came after the prosecution and defence teams reached a rare consensus during the proceedings to fast-track the case, which they argued had suffered deliberate and serial delays allegedly orchestrated by Mrs Jonathan’s private prosecutors, Ige Asemudara and Samuel Chinedu Maduba.
The delay tactics reportedly included health excuses, unreachable witnesses, and repeated adjournments based on flimsy reasons.
In the meantime, the Bayelsa state High Court has denied any involvement in the delays, restating its commitment to speedy justice and dismissing reports of suspects’ trials being delayed.
It claimed that, according to available records, the matter had suffered delays due to multiple defence lawyers who must cross-examine witnesses, which had slowed down proceedings. It added that the case had also suffered several adjournments at the instance of counsel.
Meanwhile, the delays have left the defence team and families of the detainees confused, more so that the prosecution reportedly failed to produce any convincing evidence to support the capital charges.
The affected persons are Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Sahabi Lima, Emmanuel Aginwa, Erema Deborah, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Achese, Salomi Wareboka, Sunday Reginald, Boma Oba, Vivian Golden and Emeka Benson.