Ex-Nigerian First Lady allegedly holds 15 domestic workers in prison since 2019 over missing jewellery
Nigerian former First Lady Patience Jonathan has allegedly kept 15 of her domestic staff locked up in Bayelsa State’s Okaka Correctional Centre since 2019 over an unproven case of robbery.
It gathered that these workers have been rotting behind bars without a court conviction, as their trial has been repeatedly stalled on the orders of the influential former First Lady.
Sources familiar with the case raised the alarm, calling for urgent intervention to ensure justice for the detained workers.
“Since 2019, former First Lady Patience Jonathan has locked up about 16 of her domestic staff in Okaka Prison for allegedly stealing her jewellery, without first allowing a competent court of law to try them and sentence them.
“Some years ago, TECH4JUSTICE was able to provide legal services for them, which they have been doing ever since. But since the current Chief Judge came on board, she has been deliberately dragging the case on Patience Jonathan’s instructions. She is a stooge of the former First Lady,” one of the sources said.
Also, a relative of one of the detained domestic workers, speaking to SaharaReporters, stated, “They are at Okaka Prison in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. They are 15 in number and have been in prison since 2019. They were domestic workers for the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.
“In 2019, there was a case of breaking and entering in one of her apartments in Otuoke, and she decided to arrest all her workers—even though they were not working in that apartment at the time.
“Since then, there has been no evidence to prove the case in court, and the case is not proceeding. They keep saying they are waiting for witnesses to come forward until today,” the source said.
The names of the detained workers 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.
“They are being charged with armed robbery, malicious damage, attempted murder, stealing, and so on. But there is no evidence! They are even going to court this morning (Thursday),” the source added.
The prolonged detention of these workers is a breach of Nigeria’s constitutional guarantee of the presumption of innocence.
Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria explicitly states that every person accused of a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Furthermore, Section 35 guarantees the right to personal liberty and stipulates that no person shall be detained beyond a reasonable period without trial.
SaharaReporters has learnt that the detained staff’s case has been deliberately stalled in court, allegedly under the influence of Patience Jonathan.
If these allegations are true, it raises serious questions about both the power of the political elite and the integrity of our legal institutions. Holding people without trial for over five years is not just a legal issue—it’s a moral one.
The fact that this has gone on since 2019 without a court ruling is deeply troubling. It really highlights the urgent need for reform in how we handle pre-trial detention and ensure no one is above the law.
This case is truly disturbing. The fact that these workers have been behind bars since 2019 without a trial or conviction speaks volumes about the lack of accountability. No one should be subjected to such treatment, regardless of their status or the accusations against them.
This is deeply troubling—four years of imprisonment without a conviction raises serious concerns about abuse of power and the integrity of the justice system. It’s even more alarming that the alleged influence of one individual could override due process for so long.
Holding people for six years without trial over unproven theft claims? Regardless of status, this kind of abuse of power is deeply troubling.