Former Nigerian First Lady, Patience Dame Jonathan, has been accused of unlawfully detaining 15 of her domestic staff in Bayelsa State’s Okaka Correctional Centre since 2019, over unproven allegations of robbery.
According to reports from SaharaReporters, the workers have been languishing behind bars without a formal court conviction, as their trial has been repeatedly delayed, allegedly due to the influence of the former First Lady. Sources claim that the current judge overseeing the case is stalling the legal proceedings on Jonathan’s orders.
The source further claimed that the domestic workers were locked up in 2019 after a robbery incident at one of Jonathan's properties in Otuoke, Bayelsa State. However, the workers involved were not employed in that particular apartment at the time. Despite the serious charges, which include armed robbery, malicious damage, and attempted murder, no court evidence has been presented to support these claims, and the case has been stalled ever since.
The detained workers, who include Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Saabi Liman, Emmanuel Aginwa, Erema Deborah, Williams Alami, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Waribobo, Salomi Reginald, Sunday Boma, Oba Golden, and Vivian, have been unable to move forward with their case due to continued delays.
A relative of one of the detained workers shared with SaharaReporters, “They are at Okaka Prison in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. They were domestic workers for the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan. Since 2019, they have been detained without a court conviction. There is no evidence to prove the case in court, and the case has been repeatedly stalled.”
The source further revealed that despite legal assistance from organizations like TECH4JUSTICE, the legal proceedings have remained frozen. Allegedly, the delay in their trial is the result of instructions from Patience Jonathan, with claims that the current Chief Judge is acting under her influence.
The case has sparked outrage among critics, who view this as an abuse of power, with the workers caught in a prolonged legal limbo. Legal advocates have called for the immediate review and action to ensure that justice is served.
While Patience Jonathan has not publicly commented on the allegations, the situation remains a source of ongoing legal and public scrutiny.
