Court Orders Swift Trial For 15 Domestic Workers Detained Over Patience Jonathan’s Missing Jewellery
The Bayelsa State High Court has issued an order for the expedited trial of 15 domestic workers, most of whom were employed by former First Lady Patience Jonathan, who have been held at the Okaka Correctional Centre in Yenagoa for nearly six years.
The workers are accused of stealing jewellery belonging to Mrs. Jonathan, a case that has faced multiple delays since their arrest in 2019.
The court’s decision to fast-track the trial came after both the prosecution and defence teams agreed to accelerate the hearings, a rare consensus following years of court delays.
These delays were allegedly caused by manipulation from Patience Jonathan’s legal team, according to reports.
“The court proceeded well today, and both parties have agreed to finish the case as soon as possible, with an accelerated hearing. So victory is coming,” a source close to the defence told SaharaReporters.
Despite multiple requests for bail, the accused have remained in detention with no conviction. Legal delays have been blamed on Patience Jonathan’s private legal team, led by Ige Asemudara and Samuel Chinedu Maduba.
The delays reportedly included health-related excuses, unreachable witnesses, and numerous adjournments.
“Sometimes, Ige Asemudara would claim he is sick or his witness has work. Other times, he just asks for long adjournments,” said another insider.
The judiciary has faced allegations of complicity in these delays.
One insider stated that the presiding judge initially postponed bail hearings to review some prosecution evidence before ultimately denying bail, stating that the offences were capital and non-bailable.
“When the case started in 2019, they all applied for bail. But the judge told their lawyers to wait so she could hear some evidence. After that, she shockingly denied bail, saying the offences were capital and therefore not bailable.”
In response to accusations of prolonged delays, the Bayelsa State High Court defended its actions, attributing the delays to multiple defence lawyers needing time to cross-examine witnesses.
It also denied the claim that the case had been intentionally delayed.
The detainees, including Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, and others, have spent years in prison awaiting trial.
With the court’s recent decision to speed up the process, there is renewed hope for the accused, whose families have long awaited justice.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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