Olayiwola Matthew
Former domestic workers of ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan, currently held at the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State, have voiced their distress over mistreatment and the indefinite delays in their trial.
They claimed they are enduring extreme hardship and torture during their lengthy detention.
Speaking in an interview, two of the detainees urgently appealed for help, describing their ongoing suffering in prison.
The workers, some of whom have been incarcerated since 2019, expressed frustration over repeated adjournment that have stalled their trial.
The detainees 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.
The workers were first brought before the High Court of Bayelsa in 2019, accused of stealing several items from Patience Jonathan, including seven gold bangles, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of chairs, and six flat-screen televisions, all valued at N200 million.
In addition to theft, they faced multiple charges of conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, and burglary.
A charge sheet revealed that the accused conspired to kill Patience Jonathan in June 2019, following an alleged break-in at her Otuoke residence.
One of the defendants, speaking from prison, expressed frustration over the lack of evidence and the slow pace of the case.
“We’ve been in jail since 2019, but no evidence has been presented against us. There’s been no progress, and the case is repeatedly delayed because we are waiting for witnesses. Meanwhile, we remain incarcerated without trial,” the detainee said, pleading for intervention.
Another inmate described harsh treatment at the hands of prison authorities, allegedly under the influence of the former first lady.
“They threaten us, torture us, and mock us. When I was at the station, they beat us and said they would hang us. Patience Jonathan even listened in on our screams, demanding that we be brought to her hotel for more punishment,” the inmate said.
Families Demand Justice and Prompt Action
Relatives of the detainees have also called on the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, and the Chief Judge of Bayelsa to address the ongoing injustice.
Gladys Achese, the sister of detainee Tamunosiki Achese, expressed her heartbreak over her sibling’s continued imprisonment.
“Visiting my sister is always a painful experience. I cry every time I see her. She consoles me instead of the other way around,” Gladys said, noting that her family has been traveling between Bayelsa and Port Harcourt since 2019 without resolution.
“Whether guilty or not, they deserve a fair trial. The court must act quickly and stop delaying their cases,” she added.
Steve Ibiene, the brother of William Alami, also expressed deep distress. “We want justice. If they are guilty, they should be sentenced. But they shouldn’t be kept in prison for six years without being tried. What happens if they’re found innocent after all this time? This situation is unfair.”
Another family member, Boma Hubert, described the continued detention of his brother, Reginald Sunday, as illegal.
He pointed out that since the case began, Patience Jonathan has failed to appear in court.
“The case has been repeatedly delayed. The court was meeting twice a month, but now it’s once a month. The judge even suggested the case might be thrown out due to Patience Jonathan’s absence, but nothing has changed,” Hubert said. “It feels like she’s using her influence to keep them incarcerated.”
Despite the clear concerns over their extended imprisonment and ongoing delays, the case remains unresolved, leaving the detainees and their families in a state of uncertainty.
©Punch.
