Barr Nojin Tairu, counsel to the accused persons.
By Abasifreke Effiong – Uyo
A Magistrate Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State adjourned hearing on the case of alleged sexual molestation of Deeper Life High School student to February 10, after opening of hearing.
Magistrate Court 1, sitting at FULGA street, Uyo on Wednesday 20th January held hearing on the alleged molestation of the Deeper Life High School student, Don Davis Archibong, behind closed doors.
The Chief Magistrate, Winifred Umoh-Andy directed that all persons who are not directly involved in the case, including journalists, to be sent out of the court.
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Recall that the mother of the 11 years old Don Davis Archibong, Mrs Deborah Archibong had sued the Principal of Deeper Life High School, Mrs Ndidi Solomon, two students of the school and four others over sexual molestation, harassment and victimization of her child.
After the closed doors session, lead counsel to the seven accused persons, Barr Nojin Tairu said the Court was right to shut out everyone except parties directly involved in the case. He however refused to speak on what transpired in the closed doors session.
“By the standard practice in court, when you have started proceedings, you are not allowed to make comments on the nitty gritty of the matter.”
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“At the end of the proceedings, we will have the privilege to know all the proceedings.”
“This was a special court proceeding involving child’s right procedure trial but criminal in nature. That was why all persons including journalists were asked to leave the court premises. This is actually a juvenile court and the law is weary about exposing somethings that may have harmful effect on the children involved. There are three children in this case, one on this side, two on the other side and we have to be careful and sensitive to what the law says.”
“At the end of the proceedings the public will have a no-holds-barred revelation of the proceedings”, Tairu explained.
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Counsel to the plaintiff, Barr. David Okokon also said the court followed the standard of proceedings obtainable globally in the juvenile case by holding the hearing in closed session.
“Procedurally, since it was a juvenile court journalists were not be allowed to observe the proceedings.
“A juvenile court deserves a jurisprudencial privacy it has. Why the court did this was because, the court knows that the press has every power to get the information from the lawyers, which I am here with you.”
However, the case was adjourned to February 10, 2021 for continuation of hearing.
