Fifteen domestic staff of former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, have been detained since 2019, facing charges of conspiracy to kill her rather than theft, a human rights group has revealed.
According to Tech4Justice, the workers’ trial has experienced constant delays due to repeated adjournments.
Funmi Adedoyin, a legal associate with Tech4Justice, explained that efforts to secure bail for the accused have been blocked.
She accused the judiciary in Bayelsa State of bowing to pressure from powerful individuals close to Jonathan, leading to over 40 adjournments between 2019 and 2025.
Adedoyin pointed out that the police prosecutors often failed to appear in court, causing further delays in the trial.
She also mentioned that some of the officers handling the case had been transferred to other locations, such as Lagos, with many citing special assignments as reasons for their absence.
This contributed to the lengthy adjournments, she said.
Despite multiple applications for bail, all of which have been denied, Adedoyin expressed concern over the prisoners’ continued confinement.
She also spoke about the personal tragedy of one defendant, a woman who lost her child while in prison and could not attend the funeral.
The lawyer revealed that instead of investigating those suspected of stealing jewelry from Jonathan, the police arrested all of the domestic workers under the former first lady’s alleged instructions.
The charges were not for theft, but rather conspiracy to kill Jonathan, a serious accusation that made it harder for the accused to secure bail.
Adedoyin stated that three of the detainees are currently on bail due to health issues, including one who had tuberculosis.
She added that the police had no evidence to suggest the workers were armed, yet they still faced the severe charges.
The case continues to be delayed as the judicial process struggles to move forward.
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