A young Nigerian, Precious Kingsley, has spent nearly six years in prison after being arrested in 2019 over missing jewellery belonging to former First Lady Patience Jonathan in Bayelsa State.
SaharaReporters gathered that his only crime was being a frequent visitor to his mother, a domestic worker in the ex-First Lady’s household.
SaharaReporters exclusively gathered that Kingsley, who was about 20 years old at the time, had been preparing to take his West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) when he was suddenly thrown behind bars.
A family source who spoke to SaharaReporters detailed the ordeal, describing it as an abuse of power that has ruined the young man’s future.
“Precious Kingsley is Deborah Erema’s son. Deborah is one of those locked up on the orders of Patience Jonathan over her missing jewellery. He lives in Port Harcourt and used to visit his mother, Deborah, who worked for Patience Jonathan at her residence,” the source revealed.
The source further dismissed any claims that Kingsley was present at Mrs Jonathan’s household when the jewellery allegedly went missing, stating: “Not at all. He last visited over two months before the incident. The incident happened long after he visited his mother. I think he was preparing for WAEC (WASSCE) then.”
Shockingly, despite no concrete evidence linking him to the missing jewellery, Kingsley was arrested, detained, and left to rot in prison. His education and future were abruptly halted.
“Kingsley turned 26 last month, March 2025. That means he was 20 or 21 years old when he was arrested,” the source continued.
“Since then, he could not further his education. Almost six years of his life were wasted already. By now, he ought to have completed his first degree. But he is languishing inside the prison without any hope of when he will be released for what he knows nothing about.”
The source also insisted that Kingsley had no official role in Patience Jonathan’s household and was merely a visitor.
“Kingsley was not working under the former First Lady. His only offence was that his mother, Deborah, worked there. And because he normally visited her, I don’t know why the young boy is seen as a suspect,” the source said.
SaharaReporters had also reported how Kingsley’s mother Deborah Erema, was not allowed to bury her daughter after being detained for over five years on the orders of former First Lady.
Deborah Erema, who worked as a domestic worker in the Jonathan household, has been languishing in prison, together with 14 others, since 2019 after being accused of stealing jewellery belonging to Patience Jonathan.
The names of other detained workers are Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Sahabi Lima, Emmanuel Aginwa, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Achese, Salomi Wareboka, Sunday Reginald, Boma Oba, Vivian Golden and Emeka Benson.
“Deborah Erema lost her daughter. She died after struggling alone all these years to fend for her mother, Deborah, and her younger brother, Precious Kingsley, who is also here alongside his mother,” the source said.
“The sad part is that she was not allowed to leave to bury her daughter.”
The source added that another detainee, Tamunokuro Abaku, also lost his elder brother, who had been his only source of support.
“Tamunokuro Abaku also lost his elder brother, who was a backbone to his younger brother’s well-being,” the source said.
The source noted that Deborah Erema’s daughter had too much burden on her shoulders, taking care of herself, her siblings, and her incarcerated mother.
“Yes, because she had so much to care for. She was a single mother of about two or three kids. So adding the mum’s situation became too much for her. She took ill for a while and died later,” the source said.
When contacted, Bayelsa State Police Command, ASP Musa Mohammed told SaharaReporters that he was not aware of the matter.
“I’m just hearing about the case, but I promise you, I will look into it. I will definitely investigate and get back to you,” he told SaharaReporters during a telephone conversation on Friday morning.
© SaharaReporters