The Nigerian Bar Association has stepped in to facilitate the resolution of the prolonged detention of 15 former domestic staff of Dame Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who has remained behind bars for over six years on allegations of theft and conspiracy.
The individuals, who were domestic workers under the former first lady, were arrested and arraigned in 2019 for allegedly stealing valuables—including seven gold bangles, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery chairs, and six flat-screen televisions—reportedly worth over N200 million.
The accused, who include 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 slammed with 18 charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, burglary, and stealing.
According to The PUNCH, a senior NBA official who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the association is in talks with relevant parties, including the Bayelsa State Government and legal representatives of the former first lady.
“We are engaging all stakeholders involved in this case. The Attorney General of Bayelsa State has assured us that he will look into it, and we’ve also spoken with the lawyer representing Dame Patience Jonathan,” the official said. “The goal is to find a fair and quick resolution because the case has dragged on for too long.”
The NBA said it remains committed to safeguarding the rights of all parties involved and is monitoring the case closely to ensure due process is followed.
According to the official, one of the challenges affecting the pace of the trial is the complexity arising from multiple defendants and their legal counsel. “Each defendant has a different lawyer, and this has made proceedings cumbersome. Also, at some point, one of the detainees had a baby, which slowed things down,” he explained.
However, this claim was refuted by a source within the Okaka Custodial Centre who revealed that the female inmate in question, identified as Salomi Wareboka, was granted bail due to her pregnancy and her underlying sickle cell condition. “Her health condition necessitated her bail. That should not be cited as a reason for the trial delays,” the source stated.
The source also disclosed that authorities at the custodial facility have cautioned the inmates against discussing their ordeal publicly. “The controller of the facility summoned them and warned them to stop leaking information to the public. He denied ever meeting or having any dealings with the former first lady and also rejected allegations of torture,” the source added.
In a related development, family members of the detainees have begun speaking out. Gladys Achese, the sister of Tamunosiki Achese—one of the accused—revealed how the prolonged incarceration led to the collapse of her sister’s marriage.
“My sister got married in February 2018. She planned to resign from her job, but her husband encouraged her to stay until the end of the year,” Gladys recalled. “When she was eventually arrested, her husband never visited or contacted our family. He later sent divorce papers to her in prison in 2022.”
She also alleged that her sister’s ex-husband bypassed legal procedures and went directly to the former first lady in an attempt to resolve the issue, which led to her being summoned to Jonathan’s residence.
As the NBA intensifies efforts to mediate the situation, it has called on the judiciary to offer public clarity on the status of the case, noting the high level of public interest and the need for transparency.
“We urge the court to explain the status of the proceedings to the public. It’s important for people to understand what is going on,” the NBA official concluded.
