One of the detained workers recounted how several respected figures from Bayelsa State had approached the former president to plead for their release but he allegedly dismissed the appeal when he realised none of them were from his state. 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly refused to intervene in the prolonged detention of 15 domestic workers imprisoned on the orders of his wife, Patience Jonathan, over a missing jewellery because none of them hails from his home state, Bayelsa. 

One of the detained workers recounted how several respected figures from Bayelsa State had approached the former president to plead for their release but he allegedly dismissed the appeal when he realised none of them were from his state. 

"Some years back, while the case had not stayed for this long, some well-meaning persons from Bayelsa State made several efforts to go and beg Patience Jonathan for peace, but she refused,” the source said.

“These same persons also approached Goodluck, but he asked them if there were any persons among us that were from Bayelsa State. They told him none of them was from his state, and that was how he kept quiet about the whole thing up till now. Initially, we really thought he wasn't aware that his wife locked up some persons."

The victim also alleged that Jonathan's former Chief Security Officer, Collins Otutu, was responsible for overseeing their torture.

"This is coupled with the fact that it was his Chief Security Officer, Collins Otutu, who oversaw and partook in our torture then. He was an ASP at the time. We felt really bad because he was appointed a peace ambassador and had been travelling around African countries to advocate for peace and freedom,” the victim said.

SaharaReporters had earlier exposed how the domestic workers have been rotting in Okaka Correctional Centre since 2019 after they were accused of stealing jewellery belonging to the former First Lady. 

Despite the constitutional presumption of innocence, they have been denied their freedom as the trial has been repeatedly stalled on the orders of Patience Jonathan, who remains highly influential in Bayelsa State. 

Sources familiar with the case raised the alarm, calling for urgent intervention to ensure justice for the detained workers.

“Since 2019, former First Lady Patience Jonathan has locked up about 16 of her domestic staff in Okaka Prison for allegedly stealing her jewellery, without first allowing a competent court of law to try them and sentence them.

“Some years ago, TECH4JUSTICE was able to provide legal services for them, which they have been doing ever since. But since the current Chief Judge came on board, she has been deliberately dragging the case on Patience Jonathan’s instructions. She is a stooge of the former First Lady,” one of the sources said.

Also, a relative of one of the detained domestic workers, speaking to SaharaReporters, stated, "They are at Okaka Prison in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. They are 15 in number and have been in prison since 2019. They were domestic workers for the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan.

“In 2019, there was a case of breaking and entering in one of her apartments in Otuoke, and she decided to arrest all her workers—even though they were not working in that apartment at the time.

“Since then, there has been no evidence to prove the case in court, and the case is not proceeding. They keep saying they are waiting for witnesses to come forward until today.”

“They are being charged with armed robbery, malicious damage, attempted murder, stealing, and so on. But there is no evidence!” the source added.

The names of the detained workers are 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.  

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