The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stepped into the prolonged detention saga involving 15 former domestic staff of Nigeria’s ex-First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, who have now spent six years behind bars without trial.
Held at the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State since 2019, the former aides were arrested and charged for allegedly stealing items valued at ₦200 million from Mrs Jonathan’s apartment in Otuoke, Bayelsa. The charges range from burglary, conspiracy to commit murder, and armed robbery.
Despite the weighty charges, the detainees have consistently cried out for help, alleging maltreatment, delayed justice, and absence of evidence against them.
“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 of the inmates told Saturday PUNCH.
“We were not even working in that apartment; since then, there is no evidence to prove to the court, and the case is not proceeding; she is still waiting for witnesses to come till today.”
Another detainee alleged physical torture and intimidation at the instance of the former First Lady: “These people want to kill us. In this prison, they are threatening us… After they beat us, she would be on the phone listening to our voices and telling them it was not enough that they should bring us to her hotel and house.”
Family members have also joined in calling for intervention.
Gladys Achese, sister to one of the detainees, described each visit to her sister in prison as “traumatizing.”
“I am not saying my sister is guilty or not, but the court should do the right thing and give them fair hearing,” she pleaded. “They should also preside over the matter and give judgment. They have been delaying everything for six years now. We demand that the court be allowed to do its job.”
Another relative, Steve Ibiene, added, “If they are later found guilty, what will happen to the six years they have spent? They should release all of them. No court has said they are guilty of the crime.”
The accused were arraigned before the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa in 2019.
Since then, the case has been plagued by delays, with over 40 adjournments recorded, largely due to the absence of police prosecutors and failure of key witnesses—including Mrs Jonathan herself—to appear in court.
Legal advocacy group Tech4Justice, which has taken up the matter, claims the judiciary has been pressured by influential forces close to the complainant.
Funmi Adedoyin, a legal associate of the group, disclosed that “several bail applications were made but denied. We applied for bail at the beginning of the case, but it was denied. The trial has been ongoing, but several factors have delayed it until now.”
Adedoyin further revealed that police had changed the charges midway, adding a conspiracy to kill charge allegedly to ensure the defendants remained in custody.
“Everyone in the villa was arrested. The police know that stealing is a bailable offence. Because of that, they charged them with another offence entirely different from the alleged theft of the jewellery – conspiracy to kill Madam Patience Jonathan,” she said.
Three of the accused are currently on bail for health reasons, including one who had tuberculosis, while another lost her child during detention and couldn’t attend the funeral.
To resolve the matter, the NBA confirmed it is engaging all stakeholders, including the former First Lady, her legal team, and the Bayelsa State Attorney General.
“We have reached out to the former first lady. We have reached out to some of the lawyers. We have also spoken to the Attorney General of Bayelsa State to look into the matter… because it is unnecessarily getting attention,” a top NBA official, who pleaded anonymity, told Sunday PUNCH.
He assured the association is committed to ensuring justice for all parties: “We will continue to speak with the parties. The Attorney General has promised to look into the matter and get back to us.”
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