A trial date has finally been fixed for the long-running case involving former domestic workers of ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan, after years of adjournments, allegations of judicial interference and growing public pressure forced the hand of the court.
The workers, numbering fifteen in total, have been in detention since 2019 on allegations that they stole jewellery reportedly worth hundreds of millions of naira from the former First Lady. After more than six years in custody, the case had reached the stage at which the defendants were expected to open their defence, but repeated delays, prolonged absences of the presiding judge and failures to fix hearing dates have stalled proceedings.
The new date of May 22 was set following renewed media attention on the case, with a source familiar with the matter saying the Chief Judge eventually responded to mounting pressure from press coverage.
Family members of the detained workers have maintained that the prosecution has failed to prove its case and that key confessions tendered against their relatives were obtained under duress. Some of the defendants testified in court that they were tortured during interrogation. Relatives have also alleged that Bayelsa State government officials have been working behind the scenes to keep the accused in custody and to prevent the Chief Judge from progressing the matter, with suggestions that political calculations ahead of the 2027 elections may be driving the interference.
The long years of detention have taken a severe toll on the accused. One of the fifteen, Sahabi Liman, died in custody after his health deteriorated beyond recovery.
His son recalled that Liman had been granted bail several years earlier to seek medical treatment, appeared to improve for a time, but eventually worsened and died. Family members attributed his death to the physical and psychological burden of prolonged incarceration without resolution.
Several of the remaining defendants are said to be battling serious health conditions with limited access to adequate medical care.
