In a significant development after years of prolonged legal deadlock, the Bayelsa State High Court has ordered the accelerated hearing of the case involving 15 domestic workers who have spent almost six years in detention at the Okaka Correctional Centre, Yenagoa.
The detainees are accused of being involved in the alleged disappearance of luxury jewellery belonging to former Nigerian First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
The court’s directive for a fast-tracked trial came after both the prosecution and defence reached a rare consensus during Thursday’s proceedings. This decision marks a potential turning point for the defendants, who have been held without bail since their arrest in 2019 — amid growing public outrage over alleged abuses of the judicial process, manipulation of court schedules, and deliberate delays.
A source close to the defence team, speaking with SaharaReporters, described the court session as promising:
“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.”
Years of Detention Without Conviction
The 15 individuals — Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Sahabi Lima, Emmanuel Aginwa, Erema Deborah, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Achese, Salomi Wareboka, Sunday Reginald, Boma Oba, Vivian Golden, and Emeka Benson — were all either domestic workers or staff connected to Mrs. Jonathan’s household. They were arrested following allegations of theft and burglary in relation to missing high-value jewellery pieces from the former First Lady.
Despite their consistent pleas of innocence and multiple bail applications, they remained imprisoned without trial for nearly six years, prompting human rights advocates and members of the public to label the situation as a grave miscarriage of justice.
Allegations of Manipulation and Delay
Investigative reports and insider accounts have pointed to systemic abuse of the court process, with sources alleging that Mrs. Jonathan’s private legal team — led by Ige Asemudara and Samuel Chinedu Maduba — actively employed delay tactics. These included the use of health excuses, the unavailability of witnesses, and repeated requests for adjournments.
One source disclosed:
“One of them [the prosecutors] comes from Lagos while the second travels from Port Harcourt. They’ve been handling this case from day one, presenting witnesses who come to tell lies. One witness alone took almost two years.”
Further reports suggested that Mrs. Jonathan herself gave direct instructions to stall proceedings, which has kept the accused languishing in prison without trial or conviction. The allegations extend to claims that some of the defendants were not only detained unjustly but were also subjected to psychological and physical abuse, with one victim accusing Mrs. Jonathan of participating in acts of torture during the early days of the arrest.
Court’s Position and Denial of Wrongdoing
In response to growing media scrutiny, the Bayelsa State High Court had earlier dismissed claims of undue delay, attributing the slow pace to procedural issues such as the number of defence lawyers and the cross-examination of witnesses, which naturally extended the timeline. The court, however, reiterated its commitment to delivering justice impartially and emphasized that no bias had influenced the case handling.
Nevertheless, critics and family members of the detainees argue that the judicial explanations do not justify the extraordinary length of the trial and the denial of bail, particularly given the non-violent nature of the alleged offence and the lack of strong evidence from the prosecution.
Emotional Toll on Families
The long incarceration has had devastating effects on the families of the detained individuals. Earlier this month, the mother of one of the accused broke down in tears during an interview, appealing to Nigerians and human rights organizations to intervene. She lamented the injustice and described the agony of watching her child’s life waste away behind bars without trial or conviction.
A Glimmer of Hope
With the court now ordering an accelerated hearing, there is renewed hope for the accused and their families, many of whom have endured years of waiting for justice. Legal experts and rights activists continue to monitor the proceedings closely, urging the judiciary to act decisively to correct the prolonged injustice.
As the case resumes under this new directive, the Nigerian legal community and the public await what many hope will be a fair and speedy resolution, after years of controversy surrounding the influence of power, wealth, and legal manipulation.
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