EXCLUSIVE: ‘‘They Want to Keep Them In Prison Till After 2027 Election’: Family Alleges Political Plot In Patience Jonathan Ex-Workers’ Case
EXCLUSIVE: ‘‘They Want to Keep Them In Prison Till After 2027 Election’: Family Alleges Political Plot In Patience Jonathan Ex-Workers’ Case
Speaking in an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters on Thursday, the source revealed that pressure from authorities had intensified following recent media reports on the case.
Afamily source of some of the detained domestic workers linked to former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, has alleged fresh intimidation and political interference in the prolonged trial of the workers, who have been in detention since 2019.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters on Thursday, the source revealed that pressure from authorities had intensified following recent media reports on the case.
“Since your publication a few days ago, the prison authorities’ intimidation of them has intensified,” the source said.
“They kept threatening them that the Bayelsa Government has given an order to keep them in prison indefinitely, and that the Chief Judge should not sit on the matter again anytime soon.”
The source further alleged that the development is politically motivated.
“They want to do this to please Patience Jonathan because of the 2027 election that is coming. Everybody knows this woman has so much influence on Bayelsa politics,” the source added.
According to the family member, the case has remained stalled since the last court sitting about two weeks ago, with no new hearing date fixed.
“As we speak, since the adjournment about two weeks ago, the Chief Judge has not given them a new date. Their lawyers have tried all their best to get a new date but the court officials refuse because they are acting on the orders of the government,” the source said.
“All these developments confirm the rumour that the government has the intention of ensuring these innocent workers stay in the prison till after 2027 election.”
The source also noted that the case had reached a crucial stage that could favour the defendants before proceedings were halted.
“What is more painful in this story is that the case is now at a very critical stage that is favouring them. They are presenting their defences,” the source said.
“From what we saw in court during the prosecution case, the prosecution has not really proved their case beyond reasonable doubt because the confessional statements they tendered were argued to be involuntarily made.”
The source added that the defendants were prepared to challenge the prosecution’s evidence but were being denied the opportunity.
“So now, these people have prepared to say their own side of the story in the defence by countering all the evidence tendered by the prosecution, but the court is making that difficult,” the family source said.
“There is a clear foul play because why are they keeping them in prison without even them knowing when next they would be in court. No date was taken.”
Expressing frustration over the prolonged trial, the source noted that the case, which began in 2019, had suffered repeated delays.
“This is the same case that has been on since 2019 and the judge is still treating it as if it was reported last month. This is the same judge that is close to her retirement,” the source said.
“The last I heard from these people, the majority of them were already depressed and had given up about getting justice in this case because of the manner in which the judge and state government had been handling the matter.”
New allegations add to previous claims against Bayelsa State Chief Judge Matilda Abrakasa Ayemieye, accusing her of trying to indefinitely delay the trial of 14 workers left out of the initial 15.
SaharaReporters had reported that repeated adjournments, the judge’s absence in court, and the failure to fix new hearing dates have left the case in limbo, with only one defendant said to have concluded her defence.
The workers were arrested in 2019 over alleged theft of jewellery belonging to Patience Jonathan, an allegation they have consistently denied, insisting that their confessional statements were obtained under duress.
The prolonged legal battle has already recorded tragic consequences. SaharaReporters had earlier reported the death of one of the defendants, Sahabi Liman, whose health deteriorated significantly during his incarceration.
Liman, who was granted bail on medical grounds after years in detention at the Okaka Correctional Centre, Yenagoa, eventually died in a hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He was said to have battled a prolonged illness that worsened due to prison conditions.
Family members and close associates blamed his death on the physical and emotional toll of prolonged detention without resolution of his case.
