As Jonathan’s 15 Patience Ex-Aides launched in prison as a process stalls for six years

… Relatives, the prisoners shout over 40 updates, support torture, influence selling

Some former domestic workers of the former first lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, have denounced their prolonged detention and alleged inhuman treatment at the Okaka custody center in the state of Bayelsa, almost six years after being postponed for theft accusations.

The 15 prisoners, including male and female staff, were arrested in 2019 for alleged theft of objects including gold bracelets, jewelry, air conditioners, upholstery chairs and flat -screen televisions with the value of N200m.

They were accused before the high court of the state of Bayelsa, Yenagoa, on charges of 18 counts, including conspiracy to commit murder and armed robbery.

Despite the severity of the accusations, the accused have not yet been processed, since the case has undergone over 40 updates, arousing concerns about justice and abuse of power.

In separate interviews, two of the prisoners complained about their prolonged detention, claiming that the police had not presented any proof against them and that they were unjustly punished.

“We have been in prison since 2019 without trial. We have not worked in the apartment where the theft took place. The police have no evidence and the court is still waiting for witnesses,” said one of them.

Another prisoner said he had been tortured on the education of the former First Lady.

“They threatened to hang up and took us to his hotel. He listened to the phone as they beat us and asked to be brought by her,” said the prisoner.

The relatives of the accused also appealed to the authorities, including the Prosecutor General of the Federation and the chief judge of the State of Bayelsa, to intervene.

Gladys Achaese, sister of one of the prisoners, Tamunosiki Achese, said that the family visited the patience Jonathan to ask for the release of her sister unnecessarily.

“He is 36 years old. Every time I visit it in prison, I cry. The delay is too much. They should be granted the deposit and have tried it correctly,” he said.

Another relative, Steve Ibiene, whose brother William Alami is among the prisoners, has questioned the legality of prolonged detention.

“If they are guilty, condemned. But don’t keep people in prison for six years without trial. He is unfair,” he said.

Even speaking, Boma Hubert, brother of Reginald on Sunday, said that his brother, who worked in the former First Lady’s Hotel, was accused of having stolen from the presidential villa in Abuja.

He said that patience Jonathan had never appeared in court since the beginning of the case.

“He is using his influence to frustrate the trial. The court is now only found once a month,” added Hubert.

The father of another prisoner, offered Cosmos, said that his son’s health was deteriorating in custody. “He has a pile and is suffering. I want the government to help. He should leave my son alone,” he said.

In the meantime, it has been reported that the iPatience Jonathan has recently held a meeting behind closed doors with the best officials of the Nigerian correction service in Bayelsa in its Aridolf resort, in response to public criticism on prolonged detention.

Sources reported that the meeting lasted several hours and involved the prison authorities, including the Bayelsa prisons controller and the assistant controller of the Okaka structure.

The Nigerian corrective service has yet to issue an official declaration on the meeting or face the conditions of the prisoners.

While the case drags itself, families and civil society ask for an urgent judicial intervention to support the rights of the accused and ensure that justice is served.

Sources:
Saharareportters
Punch

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