Human rights activist and leader of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has criticized former First Lady Patience Jonathan, stating that she should be in prison instead of the 15 domestic workers who have been detained since 2019 over allegations of stealing N750 million worth of jewelry.
Sowore made this remark on social media, emphasizing the injustice of the workers’ prolonged detention without trial, a clear violation of their constitutional rights.
In a post on X, Sowore questioned the source of Jonathan’s wealth, asking how she could afford such expensive jewelry while accusing her of unlawfully detaining her domestic staff.
He called Nigeria the only country where alleged public looters have the audacity to imprison others for allegedly stealing from the public funds they themselves misappropriated.
The detained workers have been held in Bayelsa State’s Okaka Correctional Centre since 2019, despite having not been convicted of any crime.
Sources reveal that their trial has been repeatedly delayed under the influence of Patience Jonathan, with the case stagnating for years. Sowore, vowing to fight for the workers’ release, stated that the former First Lady should be the one facing justice, not the innocent domestic staff.
Reports indicate that one of the workers was even prevented from attending the burial of a relative due to the ongoing legal battle. The situation highlights a serious breach of Nigeria’s constitution, particularly the right to personal liberty and the presumption of innocence, as enshrined in Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
