The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stepped into the legal battle between former First Lady Patience Jonathan and 15 of her former domestic staff, who were accused of stealing items valued at ?200 million. The defendants, including Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, and others, have been facing charges in the High Court of Bayelsa since 2019.
The former domestic workers are accused of the theft of seven gold bangles and jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions. They also face 18 counts related to conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, burglary, and stealing.
According to a source within the NBA who spoke with Punch, the association is actively engaging with Patience Jonathan in an effort to find a resolution to the protracted case. The source revealed that the NBA has initiated discussions with key stakeholders, including the legal representatives of both parties, the Bayelsa State Government, and the Attorney General of Bayelsa State.
“We have reached out to the former first lady. We have reached out to some of the lawyers. We have also spoken to the Attorney General of Bayelsa State to look into the matter, and we have spoken to the lawyer of the former first lady about the possibility of resolving the matter because it is unnecessarily getting attention,” the NBA official stated.
The association emphasized its dedication to ensuring a swift resolution to the case while safeguarding the rights of all involved parties. “We will continue to speak with the parties. The Attorney General has promised that he will look into the matter and get back to us, and we have spoken to the chairman of the NBA in Yenagoa, who has told us the steps she is taking to ensure that whatever needs to be done is done,” the source added. �
The NBA also highlighted factors that have contributed to the slow progression of the case, including the birth of a child to one of the defendants and the insistence of defence lawyers on a trial-within-trial procedure. As the case continues to draw public attention, the NBA’s intervention signals a potential pathway towards a resolution that would bring closure to this long-standing legal matter.
