- Safiu Kehinde
Human Rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has accused former Nigerian First Lady, Patience Jonathan, of detaining 15 domestic staff for over six years.
Sowore, in a post on his X handle on Friday, alleged that the domestic staff have been awaiting trial since 2019 for stealing N750 million worth of jewelry from the ex-First Lady.
While questioning how Jonathan get the fund purchase the jewelry, the Sahara Reporter’s publisher held that Nigeria is the only country where alleged public treasury looters arrest others accused of stealing a portion of the funds they looted.
Sowore called for the release of the staff from what he described as ‘unjustified prosecution’.
“Former Nigerian first lady Patience Jonathan has detained 15 domestic staff members for over six years while awaiting trial for allegedly stealing N750m worth of jewelry from her.
“Where did she she get the funds to purchase jewelry valued at N750 million?
“Nigeria appears to be the only country where alleged public treasury looters have the audacity to arrest others accused of stealing a portion of the funds they themselves looted from the public treasury.
“We must do everything to get them released from unjustified prosecution. Patience Jonathan should be the one in prison.” Sowore wrote.
The Sahara Reporters publisher also attached publications of exclusive reports accusing the Patience Jonathan of detaining the staff.
One of the publication headlines alleged that Patience Jonathan had participated and supervised the torture of the detained workers.
Another headline claimed the ex-First Lady denied one of the staff from burying her late daughter.