Ex-First Lady Patience Jonathan Allegedly Stops Domestic Workers from Burying Late Daughter

For more than five years, Deborah Erema, a Nigerian mother, has been detained on the claimed instructions of former First Lady Patience Jonathan, preventing her from burying her daughter.
The former First Lady’s jewelry was allegedly stolen by Erema, a domestic worker in the Jonathan family, who was arrested in 2019 together with 14 other employees.
Erema and the other detainees have been detained since their arrest, holding them without a conviction, and many of them have been separated from their families.

Unfortunately, Erema’s daughter died while she was incarcerated after contending with the strain of providing for her family alone.

After battling to provide for her mother and younger brother, Erema’s daughter eventually became unwell and died, a person familiar with the matter informed SaharaReporters.
Deborah Erema’s daughter died. Her mother, Erema Deborah, and her younger brother, Precious Kingsley, who is also present with his mother, took care of her alone for many years before she passed away.

“It’s unfortunate that she was unable to go and bury her daughter,” the insider stated.

Tamunokuro Abaku, another prisoner, lost his older brother, who was his sole support system while he was in custody, according to the source.

The report added, “Tamunokuro Abaku also lost his older brother, who was the foundation of his younger brother’s overall health.”

Erema’s daughter had been unable to work alone because she was responsible for taking care of her brothers and her mother, who was incarcerated.

She was the sole provider for two or three children. She therefore found the scenario with the mother to be too much. She became unwell for a while before passing away,” the insider continued.

Access to Detainees Is Denied to Families
The detained workers’ families have voiced their displeasure, saying they have been denied the opportunity to visit their loved ones, which has further sparked concerns about the legitimacy of their continued detention.

They threatened our families’ visits while they were at the station. And as of right now, we are not permitted to see them,” a detainee’s relative said.

Read Also: Enabulele: Okpebholo’s Tribunal Victory Undermines Democratic Choice

Salome is another unsettling example. She had sickle cell disease and was imprisoned when she was four months pregnant. She was treated “wickedly” by Patience Jonathan, according to sources.

What about the woman with sickle cell illness who was detained and forced to endure her malignancy? She was four months pregnant. Salome is her name,” a source stated.

Eventually, after giving birth while in custody, Salome was given bail, but only under strict limitations. Her horrible experience while her incarceration was disclosed by the source.

The insider revealed that after giving birth while in custody and nearly dying at the Federal Medical Center while chained to the bed with her legs in chains, she was given bail with absurd terms.

Salome’s health issues have persisted even after her release, and she has never entirely recovered from the trauma of her experience.

“No, sir. She is out there, but intermittently admitted to the hospital. After giving birth this way, she never had stable health,” the insider continued.