Woman begs Jonathan’s wife to free detained daughter

A 90-year-old woman has pleaded with former First Lady Patience Jonathan to help secure the release of her daughter, Deborah Erema.

The woman revealed that her daughter has been held in custody for over five years.

In a video published by SaharaTV on Friday, the frail nonagenarian cried out, saying she was starving and had no one else to care for her.

“Nobody go give me food, nah only her dey give me. I don’t have anybody. I just go beg beg. I am now a begger. See me as I dey now.

“Please release my daughter, make she go find food for me. Nah she dey give me food. I don beg tire. I don tire. Make una leave my pikin for me. If I die now, who go bury me. Nah only her I get,” she said.

Erema, a former aide to the ex-First Lady, is one of the aides alleged to have been involved in the disappearance of jewellery said to belong to Jonathan.

They have reportedly remained in custody for years while the case has faced repeated adjournments.

According to reports the case has been delayed in court over 40 times since it began.

The individuals involved in the case include Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Emmanuel Aginwa, Deborah Erema, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Achese, Sunday Reginald, Vivian Golden, Emeka Benson, Boma Oba, Salomi Wareboka, and Sahabi Lima.

They were arraigned in 2019 before the Bayelsa State High Court in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The defendants were accused of stealing items reportedly worth N200 million, including seven gold bangles and other pieces of jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstered chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions.

They are facing an 18-count charge, which includes allegations of conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, burglary, and theft.