Fifteen former domestic staff of Nigeria’s ex-First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, have remained behind bars at the Okaka Correctional Centre in Bayelsa State since 2019, locked in a legal limbo over allegations of theft involving jewelry and valuables reportedly worth ₦200 million.
The detainees, who include cooks, cleaners, and personal aides, were accused of stealing the items from Jonathan’s Otuoke residence. However, after more than 40 court adjournments spanning five years, their trial has failed to progress meaningfully, sparking outrage from family members, human rights advocates, and legal observers.
In harrowing accounts shared with local reporters, the detainees maintain their innocence and claim they were tortured during interrogation. Some allege that Patience Jonathan herself was present during these sessions and either condoned or directly oversaw their mistreatment.
Families of the accused say they have been emotionally and financially drained, with several of them selling property and belongings in the hope of securing legal representation and bail, which has been repeatedly denied or delayed. “We just want justice or their release. How can people be held this long without a fair trial?” a relative of one of the detainees said tearfully.
Legal experts have condemned the prolonged detention as a clear abuse of the judicial process. “This is not just a case of delayed justice, it’s outright denial. Over 40 adjournments without conclusion is a travesty,” said Barrister Ibiye Gbalam, a constitutional lawyer based in Yenagoa.
The Nigerian Correctional Service has declined to comment on the allegations of torture or delay, while representatives for Mrs. Jonathan have also not issued any official response.
As the case drags on into its sixth year, pressure is mounting on the judiciary and government authorities to either fast-track the trial or release the detainees on bail. Civil rights groups have vowed to take the matter to the National Human Rights Commission and the ECOWAS Court, citing violations of human dignity and fair trial rights under both Nigerian and international law.
The story underscores growing concerns over Nigeria’s sluggish justice system and the power imbalance between ordinary citizens and political elites—raising the question: How long can silence bury the truth?
