TRIAL BEGINS OF CENTRAL AFRICAN EX-PRESIDENT BOZIZE OVER WAR CRIMES. (PHOTO).

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 Trial begins of Central African ex-president Bozize over war crimes A UN-backed court in the the Central African Republic will on Tuesday begin the trial in absentia of former president Francois Bozize, over crimes against humanity committed between 2009 and 2013. The alleged crimes committed by members of Bozize's security forces include murder, enforced disappearance, torture and rape. Bozize, 79, who seized power in a 2003 coup before being overthrown 10 years later by rebels, has been living in exile in Guinea-Bissau since March 2023. But three of his former senior military officers, Eugene Barret Ngaikosset, Vianney Semndiro and Firmin Junior Danboy, are all in pre-trial detention in the Central African Republic. Crimes against humanity The case will be heard by the Special Criminal Court (SCC), a hybrid jurisdiction located in the capital Bangui with Central African and foreign judges. In February 2024, the SCC issued an international arrest warrant for the former president ...
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STOLEN JEWELLERY: PATIENCE JONATHAN'S EX-AIDES ROT IN JAIL AS COURT ADJOURNS CASE 40 TIMES.(PHOTO).

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 Stolen Jewellery: Patience Jonathan's Ex-Aides Rot in Jail as Court Adjourns Case 40 Times


Some former domestic workers of ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan have been imprisoned for over six years, with their trial repeatedly delayed due to adjournments. The 15 workers, accused of stealing jewelry and valuables worth N200 million, were arrested in 2019 and are being held at the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State.


The defendants were accused of stealing seven gold bangles and jewelry, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions. They also face 18 counts of conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, burglary, and stealing.


The workers claim they were unlawfully detained without evidence. "We have been in prison since 2019. We were domestic staff of the former first lady, Patience Jonathan. In 2019, there was a case of breaking into one of her apartments in Otuoke, and she decided to arrest all her workers," one defendant stated.


Some defendants alleged maltreatment on the orders of the former first lady, claiming they were tortured and threatened while in custody. A relative of one defendant said, "These people want to kill us. In this prison, they are threatening us."


The families of the defendants are anguished over their loved ones' prolonged incarceration. Gladys Achese, sister of defendant Tamunosiki Achese, demanded her sister's release, saying, "This is not a nice experience. It is usually traumatizing whenever I visit my sister in prison."


Tech4Justice, a human rights organization, has attempted to secure the defendants' release on bail but was frustrated by the Bayelsa State judiciary. The organization's legal associate, Funmi Adedoyin, stated that the prosecution has yet to close its case, and the accused persons have not opened their defense.

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The trial has faced numerous challenges, including the frequent absence of police prosecutors and witnesses. Adedoyin noted that the matter has been adjourned over 40 times between 2019 and 2025, citing the slow pace of justice in Nigeria as a contributing factor.


The case has sparked concerns about the influence of powerful individuals on the justice system. The defendants' families and human rights organizations are calling for a fair hearing and an end to their loved ones' prolonged detention.

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