NBA steps in to rescue Patience Jonathan’s detained 15 ex-staff whose case has been adjourned over 40 times in 6 years for maximum punishment
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Lawyers have stepped into the lingering case involving 15 former domestic workers of Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who have been kept in detention for nearly six years over alleged theft of jewellery and other valuables with more than N200 million.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed on Sunday that they are being legally detained at Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa based on court order. The case has been adjourned more than 40 times allegedly to exert maximum punishment on the detainees.
A top official of The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) disclosed to The PUNCH that the association is engaging with Patience to resolve the matter.
The detainees are:
- 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
- Sahabi Lima
They were first arraigned before the High Court of Bayelsa in 2019 over alleged stealing of seven gold bangles and jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions valued at N200 million.
They were also charged with 18 counts of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit felony to wit: armed robbery, conspiracy to commit felony to wit: burglary and stealing, among others.
A top official of the NBA, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is in court, disclosed that efforts are ongoing to resolve the prolonged detentions.
“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, and we have spoken to the lawyer of the former first lady about the possibility of resolving the matter because it is unnecessarily getting attention,” he said.
“We will continue to speak with the parties. The Attorney General has promised that he will look into the matter and get back to us, and we have spoken to the chairman of the NBA in Yenagoa, who has told us the steps she is taking to ensure that whatever needs to be done is done.
“There are many defendants who have different lawyers, and so each of the lawyers has to cross-examine people, and that is what is causing the delay. At some point, one of the defendants even had a baby, which affected the speed of the case.
“I think the court should also put out its own story and explain what is happening.”
Husband divorces detainee
Gladys Achese, sister to one of the detainees, Tamunosiki, lamented that her sister’s husband divorced her after she spent years in prison.
Achese said: “After their marriage in February 2018, my sister wanted to quit her job, but her husband asked her to continue until October, telling her that since they had just married, it would help cover their expenses. She continued working.
“When she was ready to stop in October, he asked her to continue until December, explaining that it was because the year was almost ending. This almost caused problems for them.
“When December came, she stopped working forcefully, as he was unhappy that she quit. Up until the time of her arrest, they were living together.
“Since her arrest, the husband and his family have not reached out to our parents or visited our house to inquire about my sister. He did not go to the prison to visit his wife. He only went with his mother directly to the former first lady, and she called for my sister to be brought to her residence.
“It was in 2022 that he sent divorce papers to my sister in prison, and that is how their marriage ended.”
Prison head warns detainees over information leak
Another source at the Correctional Centre recounted that “This morning, the head of the Okaka Custodial Centre called them to say that anyone who knows who is posting news of their detention online should be asked to stop. He said the action would worsen their case.
“He stated that it was posted online that he (Controller) and others had a meeting with Patience Jonathan, but he clarified that he does not know the former first lady and they had never met. He also mentioned that they falsely accused him of torturing them. He asked them if he had tortured any of them.”
One of the detainees refuted the claim that a pregnant detainee, Wariboko Salomi, a sickle cell patient, is causing the delay in the trial because she was granted bail due to her pregnancy.
“Her [Patience Jonathan’s] relative was at the police station with us, but they released him because he was a witness in one of her cases,” the detainee said.
“Even some policemen who were securing the house were detained. But later, the CSO, Colin Otutu, said they were the ones securing and staying inside the compound. He instructed that they should be released.”
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