The Bayelsa State High Court and the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) of the State Command, have denied culpability or external influence in the protracted trial and detention of domestic aides to former Nigeria’s first lady Patience Jonathan.
The court attributed the delay in the trial overseen by Chief Judge Matilda Ayemieye to frequent changes in defence lawyers, leading to the defendants’ six-year incarceration.
“His Lordship granted accelerated hearing to enable parties to conduct the matter speedily,” Julius Nyananyo, the head of media and information to the Bayelsa State High Court, said in a statement on Monday.
“From available records, the matter has suffered delays due to multiple defence lawyers who must cross-examine witnesses, which has slowed down proceedings.”
The allegations, which surfaced recently, stated that the 15 domestic workers had been in custody since 2019 over the alleged theft of valuables including seven gold bangles, jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions reportedly valued at N200 million.
The detainees 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, among others.
They face 18 charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit felony, and burglary.
Bail denied
The statement also justified the court’s decision to deny the defendants bail, which resulted in defendants’ incarceration for nearly six years.
“Applications were determined on the merits and based on the materials furnished. Some of the defendants were admitted to bail.
“If anyone was dissatisfied, there is a mechanism for review of the same by appealing to the higher Courts,” the statement read.
In Nigeria, the complaint of unduly protracted trials caused by frequent adjournments is an undeniable problem of the country’s criminal justice system.
In many cases, economically disadvantaged defendants, either denied bail or unable to meet their bail conditions, are the most adversely affected as they spend long periods in prison awaiting trial.
NCoS denies detaining the workers
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Bayelsa State Command, has refuted reports alleging that former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, was involved in the illegal detention of 15 of her former domestic staffers at the Okaka Custodial Centre.
The command described the claims as false and an attempt to tarnish the image of the Service.
In a statement released on Sunday, April 6, Isari Gbosi Tombara, spokesperson of the custodial centre, dismissed the allegations as “unfounded and being spread to tarnish the good image of the Service.”
Tombara also addressed rumours of a closed-door meeting between the former first lady and senior officers of the NCoS in Bayelsa, asserting that no such meeting took place.
“The inmates have also been treated fairly and humanely while in custody,” the statement said. “Their fundamental human rights have been respected.”
Tombara confirmed that the detainees had appeared in court on March 10 and 11, and again on April 3, 2025, with the case adjourned to April 17, 2025.
He stressed that all individuals held at the custodial centre were committed there legally.
“No one can be admitted into any custodial centre in Nigeria without a valid warrant from a competent court of jurisdiction. On this note, they are not in our custody illegally as they were all accompanied with valid remand warrants from the court,” he said.
The NCoS further reiterated its commitment under the leadership of Acting Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, to uphold the safe and humane custody of all lawfully detained persons, as well as ensure their effective reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.
