Several former domestic staff of ex-First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan have cried out over their prolonged detention at the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State, decrying hardship, torture, and delayed justice as their trial has faced over 40 adjournments since 2019.
Two of the detainees, appealed for public intervention, claiming they had been wrongly accused and subjected to inhumane conditions without credible evidence being presented in court.
The accused—Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Emmanuel Aginwa, Erema Deborah, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Achese, Sunday Reginald, Vivian Golden, Emeka Benson, Boma Oba, Salomi Wareboka, and Sahabi Lima—were first arraigned in 2019 before the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa.
They face 18 counts, including conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, burglary, and stealing, involving items such as seven gold bangles and jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery, and six Samsung flat-screen TVs—collectively valued at N200 million.
One charge alleges they conspired to kill the former First Lady at her residence in Otuoke, Bayelsa State in June 2019. The detainees claim they were not working in the apartment where the alleged theft occurred and that no evidence has been presented in court to date.
A relative, Boma Hubert, said his brother, Reginald Sunday, was accused of stealing items from the presidential villa in Abuja, despite working in Jonathan’s hotel in Otuoke. He noted that Mrs Jonathan has never appeared in court, alleging her influence is delaying the trial.
Similarly, Offor Cosmos, father of another detainee, lamented the impact on his son’s health and the suffering of his family. “My son has pile and is suffering. The woman should leave my son,” he pleaded.
Human rights group Tech4Justice said efforts to secure bail have repeatedly failed due to alleged pressure on the judiciary from influential individuals connected to the case. Its legal associate, Funmi Adedoyin, revealed that court sessions were frequently stalled by the absence of police prosecutors, and the original judge on the case was elevated to Chief Judge, making it difficult to prioritize the matter.
“The trial has suffered more than 40 adjournments. Police witnesses have been transferred, and prosecutors are often absent,” Adedoyin said. She noted that three defendants were eventually granted bail on health grounds, including a female detainee who lost her child while in custody.
Adedoyin also stated that the police charged the detainees with conspiracy to kill, rather than simple theft, to deny them bail, despite lacking evidence they were armed or violent.
An inmate claimed that Patience Jonathan listened in on their torture over the phone and threatened to have them transferred to her hotel for more punishment. “We are being maltreated because of her. They beat us and threaten to hang us,” the inmate said.
Family members have called on the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State to intervene and ensure justice is served.
Gladys Achese, sister of one detainee, said her sister, Tamunosiki, was unjustly imprisoned. “My parents have begged Patience Jonathan, but nothing has changed. This has been dragging for six years. The court must act,” she said.
Steve Ibiene, brother of William Alami, echoed her concerns, urging the court to either try and sentence or release the detainees, saying, “No one has pronounced them guilty, yet they’ve lost six years of their lives.”
Efforts to contact Mrs Jonathan’s media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, for a response were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
