The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has intervened in the long-running case involving 15 former domestic workers of ex-First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, who have been detained for six years for alleged theft of jewellery and other valuables.
A top NBA official, who talked with reporters on Saturday, said the league was also working with Mrs Jonathan to address the situation.
According to our sources, 15 former first lady aides are being held at the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State for allegedly stealing Mrs Jonathan’s properties.
Those affected are 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.
In 2019, the defendants faced the High Court of Bayelsa. They were accused of stealing N200m worth of gold bangles, Samsung air conditioners, upholstery chairs, and Samsung flat-screen televisions.
They were also charged with 18 counts of conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, burglary, and theft.
The NBA has begun engaging with key stakeholders, including legal representatives, the Bayelsa State Government, and the former first lady, according to a top official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing court case.
“We have reached out to the former first lady. We have reached out to some of the lawyers. We have also spoken to the Attorney General of Bayelsa State to look into the matter, and we have spoken to the lawyer of the former first lady about the possibility of resolving the matter because it is unnecessarily getting attention,” he stated.
He stressed that the NBA was committed to ensuring that the case was resolved as quickly as possible and that the rights of all parties were protected.
“We will continue to speak with the parties. The Attorney General has promised that he will look into the matter and get back to us, and we have spoken to the chairman of the NBA in Yenagoa, who has told us the steps she is taking to ensure that whatever needs to be done is done,” the source added.
He mentioned that certain factors had contributed to the slow pace of the case, including the birth of a child by a defendant and the insistence of defence lawyers on a trial-within-trial procedure.
“There are many defendants who have different lawyers, and so each of the lawyers has to cross-examine people, and that is what is causing the delay. At some point, one of the defendants even had a baby, which affected the speed of the case,” he stated.
While understanding the sensitive nature of the situation, the official encouraged the judiciary to provide the public with clarification on the matter’s status.
