THE Magistrate Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has commenced proceeding  into juvenile case in the ongoing Deeper Life School crisis.

The proceedings were held behind closed doors.

The Secretary of the court, who did not mention her name, said since the matter was a juvenile case, nobody would be accepted to participate in the proceedings except the parties involved in the matter.

Recall that the police command in the state had arraigned seven persons, including minors, in connection with the alleged sexual molestation and maltreatment of one Don-Davis Archibong, a student of Deeper Life High School, Uyo two weeks ago.

The minors were charged for unlawfully assaulting Don-Davies Archibong punishable under section 218(1) of the Criminal code, cap.38, vol.2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000, including section 362(1) of the Laws of Akwa Ibom State.

Counsel for the plaintiff, David Okokon, told newsmen shortly after proceedings on Wednesday that the court followed the standard of proceedings obtainable globally in the juvenile case, adding that it was the reason journalists were not allowed to participate.

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Okokon explained that the mother to the molested boy only gave her part of the story equivalent to what she had told the press, adding that the court later admitted her statement to the police as evidence.

“Ordinarily, the court had warned that parties should not address the media because they want to allow the proceedings to be in the walls of the court on its merit, so that lawyers will not talk in and out of the matter and then confuse the public,” he said.

Also,, the counsel for the defendant, Nojin Tairu, said, “By standard like this, when you have started a proceedings, you are not allowed to be making comments about the nitty-gritty of the matter. But I need to explain this to you so that we do not run foul of what is the standard practice everywhere in the world.

“At the end of the proceedings, you will have all the fact and all that transpired in the court. I can assure you that at the end the proceedings, journalists would have the whole revelation regarding the matter,” he added.

The case was, however, adjourned to February 10, 2021 for continuation of hearing..