Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has called on former First Lady Patience Jonathan to drop the prolonged legal case against her former domestic staff, following the recent death of one of the accused while in custody.
In an open letter titled “Open Letter by Deji Adeyanju to Dame Patience Jonathan after the death of Her Former Domestic Staff Standing Trial for Theft of Jewellery in Bayelsa Prison,” shared on his X account on Tuesday, Adeyanju highlighted the tragic death of Sahabi Liman, who fell seriously ill in prison.
Adeyanju emphasized that the case has dragged on for over five years without resolution and lamented that “justice delayed so severely becomes no justice at all.”
He warned that the lengthy detention has inflicted immense suffering on the accused and their families, urging that penalties be proportionate to the alleged offence.
The letter states in part:
“Fifteen of your former domestic staff have been on trial since 2019, accused of stealing jewellery. One of them, Sahabi Liman, died in custody after falling seriously ill. This case is no longer just about stolen jewellery, but about people who have endured excessive punishment. Whether guilty or innocent, no one should suffer this long. It is time to reconsider this case with compassion and fairness.”
Adeyanju appealed to the former First Lady, describing her as a mother figure, to discontinue the case to allow the accused the chance to rebuild their lives.
The 15 accused aides, including Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, and others, have been held at the Okaka Custodial Centre in Bayelsa State.
They stand trial for allegedly stealing items valued at approximately ₦200 million, including seven gold bangles, jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, upholstery chairs, and Samsung flat-screen televisions.
The matter remains before the Bayelsa State High Court.
