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Fourteen former domestic workers of Nigeria’s ex-First Lady, Patience Jonathan, who have been in detention since 2019 over allegations of theft and other offences, have faced another setback after their trial failed to proceed at the Bayelsa State High Court on Tuesday.
The prosecution counsel was absent from court on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, despite the matter having been adjourned for the defence to conclude its case, according to a source familiar with the proceedings.
The source told SaharaReporters that the absence of the prosecution counsel prevented the hearing from going ahead, leaving the defendants to await another hearing date
“We went to court today but the case didn’t proceed. The prosecuting counsel failed to appear in court after long awaiting adjournment,” the source said.
“The defence should have finished today, but now we need to wait for another date again. No new date for now.”
The latest development means the defendants, who have spent years in custody while the case remains unresolved, will have to wait for another date before the defence can conclude its case.
The setback comes despite previous indications that the long-running trial was approaching its conclusion.
SaharaReporters had reported that the proceedings suffered another delay in July after one of the defendants, Boma Oba, failed to appear in court, prompting the presiding judge to adjourn the matter to July 28.
A source familiar with the proceedings had said the defence was expected to conclude its case at the time, but Oba, who was said to be on bail, was absent from court.
“They should have finished their defence today, but the eighth defendant, Boma Oba, the brother and family relative of former First Lady Patience Jonathan, who is on bail, refused to appear in court today without any reason,” the source had said.
“The court had no choice but to adjourn the case to the 28th of this month for the defence to be concluded.”
The case involves 14 former domestic workers of the former First Lady who were arrested and arraigned in 2019 over allegations relating to missing jewellery and other valuables.
Previous reports said the defendants were accused of stealing seven gold bangles and other jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery chairs and six Samsung flat-screen televisions reportedly valued at about N200 million.
The defendants have denied the allegations and maintained that some of the confessional statements being relied upon by the prosecution were obtained through torture and coercion.
During previous proceedings, some of the defendants reportedly told the court that they were beaten, suspended and forced to sign statements prepared by investigators.
The prolonged trial has attracted criticism from human rights advocates and legal observers, particularly over the fact that some of the defendants have spent years in custody without the conclusion of their trial.
The case has reportedly suffered numerous adjournments since it began. A 2025 report said the proceedings had been adjourned more than 40 times, while other reports documented concerns over the prolonged detention of the accused.
The prolonged incarceration has also resulted in the death of one of the defendants, Sahabi Liman.
Liman reportedly became seriously ill while in custody and was later granted bail on medical grounds. He subsequently died after his health deteriorated. Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju had, in 2025, called on Patience Jonathan to discontinue the case following Liman’s death.
The remaining defendants and their families have continued to await the conclusion of the proceedings.
Tuesday’s development has raised fresh concerns over when the defence will be allowed to conclude its case, as no new hearing date had been given as of Tuesday.
The prosecution’s failure to appear has added another delay to a case that has already lasted more than seven years.
The case remains pending before the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa.