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Court Orders Fast-Tracked Trial Of 15 Workers Held In Prison For 6 Yrs Over Patience Jonathan’s Missing Jewellery
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The Bayelsa State High Court has ordered a fast-tracked trial for 15 domestic workers who have spent nearly six years in detention at the Okaka Correctional Centre, Yenagoa, without conviction, over missing jewellery belonging to former First Lady Patience Jonathan.
SaharaReporters gathered that the order came after the prosecution and defence teams reached a rare consensus during Thursday’s proceedings to fast-track the case, which has suffered deliberate and serial delays allegedly masterminded by Patience Jonathan’s private legal team.
“The court proceeded well today, and both parties have agreed to finish the case as soon as possible, with an accelerated hearing. So victory is coming,” a source close to the defence told SaharaReporters.
The 15 accused persons, most of whom were part of Mrs Jonathan’s domestic staff, were arrested in 2019 and have remained in detention without bail, with the case dragging on endlessly for years amid reports of consistent manipulation of court processes.
A previous report by SaharaReporters exposed a pattern of intentional court delays reportedly orchestrated by Mrs Jonathan’s private prosecutors, Ige Asemudara and Samuel Chinedu Maduba, both of whom have been consistently representing the former First Lady since 2019.
“The prosecutors are Ige Asemudara and Samuel Chinedu Maduba,” one of the sources confirmed.
“One of them comes from Lagos while the second travels in from Port Harcourt. They’ve been handling this case from day one, presenting witnesses who come to tell lies. One witness took almost two years,” a source earlier told SaharaReporters.
Sources alleged that Mrs Jonathan gave direct instructions to delay the proceedings.
“The aim is to frustrate the process and keep these innocent people in prison as long as possible. It’s an abuse of the legal system,” a source close to the courtroom told SaharaReporters.
The delay tactics reportedly included health excuses, unreachable witnesses, and repeated adjournments based on flimsy reasons. “Sometimes, Ige Asemudara would claim he is sick or his witness has work. Other times, he just asks for long adjournments,” said another insider.
Shockingly, the judiciary itself was not spared from complicity allegations. A source revealed that the presiding judge initially delayed hearing the bail applications, claiming she wanted to listen to some of the prosecution’s evidence first to determine the nature of the charges.
“When the case started in 2019, they all applied for bail,” the source said. “But the judge told their lawyers to wait so she could hear some evidence. After that, she shockingly denied bail, saying the offences were capital and therefore not bailable.”
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State High Court has denied any involvement in the delays, recently restating its commitment to speedy justice and dismissing reports of suspects’ trials being delayed.
The court, in a reaction to reports that alleged that the trial of 15 domestic workers facing trial for burglary and theft of jewellery, was being delayed, said the claim was false.
It claimed that, according to available records, the matter had suffered delays due to multiple defence lawyers who must cross-examine witnesses, which had slowed down proceedings. It added that the case had also suffered several adjournments at the instance of counsel.
The delays have left the defence team and families of the detainees stunned, particularly since the prosecution reportedly failed to produce any convincing evidence to support the capital charges.
The affected persons 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.
They have remained behind bars without justice, caught in the web of power, influence, and a compromised legal process.
With the court finally conceding to an accelerated hearing, hope has once again sparked for the victims of this legal nightmare.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the Nigerian judiciary to ensure the delivery of fair and timely justice, warning that a compromised legal system poses a threat to democratic stability.
The president made the call on Monday during the commissioning of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division building complex in Dakibiyu, Abuja.
The development was disclosed in a statement posted on the official page of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President at the event.
According to the statement, Tinubu expressed concern over delays in the administration of justice and the growing frustration among citizens over prolonged court cases and case backlogs.
He said the justice system must remain accessible, fair and efficient to sustain public confidence in the judiciary.
“To my Lords Justices, as you move into this complex, Nigeria asks one thing of you: let justice be swift. Let it be fair. Let it be blind to status, tribe, or purse. Let the common man feel that this Court is truly his last hope,” Tinubu said.
The president stated that the newly commissioned Court of Appeal complex reflects his administration’s commitment to strengthening the justice sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, providing a befitting working environment for judicial officers remains part of efforts to improve the effectiveness of the nation’s justice system.
The Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on Monday adjourned the trial of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai to June 24, 2026, following the failure of two co-defendants to appear before the court.
El-Rufai, who is being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of abuse of office, financial impropriety, and fraud during his tenure as governor, was present in court when the matter was called.
The former governor arrived at the court premises at about 9:30 a.m., accompanied by officials of the ICPC, as well as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force.
However, proceedings could not continue as scheduled after two other defendants named in the charge failed to appear before the court.
Following submissions by counsel, the presiding judge adjourned the matter to June 24, 2026, for the continuation of the hearing.
El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations levelled against him, insisting that all actions taken during his administration were carried out in accordance with the law and established procedures.
The ICPC, on its part, alleges that public funds were released for projects that were either not executed or were improperly handled during the former governor’s administration.
The anti-corruption agency maintains that the charges against the defendants are supported by evidence gathered during its investigations and has expressed readiness to prosecute the case to its logical conclusion.
At previous sittings, the court had entertained arguments relating to bail conditions and preliminary applications filed by the defence team.
Monday’s proceedings were expected to feature further arguments on pending motions before the unexpected absence of the two co-defendants stalled the hearing.
The trial has continued to attract considerable public attention, given El-Rufai’s prominence in national politics and his eight-year tenure as governor of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
With the matter now adjourned, both the prosecution and defence teams are expected to return to court on June 24 for the continuation of proceedings.
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, ahead of the 2027 polls, Peter Obi, has condemned in very strong terms the order given by the Federal High Court in Abuja that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and four other parties should be deregistered for failing to meet constitutional requirements.
The former Anambra State governor, who took a swipe at the pronouncement, warned that the nation’s sacred institutions must not be sacrificed on the altar of politics.
Reacting to the Federal High Court ruling on Monday deregistering some political parties, including ADC, Obi remarked that the nation rises when institutions are stronger and not when they’re politicised.
Justice Peter Lifu ruled Monday that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must deregister ADC, Accord, Action Alliance, AA, Action Peoples Party, APP, and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP, after they failed to secure 25% of votes in the last general elections.
Writing on his X handle, the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate said, “When the controversy surrounding the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world.”
“Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.
“Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.
“We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. The Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man’s trust in our legal systems; it should be reversed.
“I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all.
“To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country! A new Nigeria is possible.”
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Deliver justice fast, ignore tribe, status – Tinubu to judges
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