A human-rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has appealed to former First Lady Patience Jonathan to discontinue the long-running case against her former domestic staff following the death of one of the accused in custody.
The lawyer made the plea 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,” posted on his X handle on Tuesday.
Adeyanju said Sahabi Liman fell seriously ill in prison and subsequently died.
Adeyanju argued the death underscores that “justice delayed so severely becomes no justice at all.”
He said the prolonged detention has taken a heavy toll on the accused and their families, and warned that punishment should be proportionate to the offence.
The letter reads in full: “For more than five years now, fifteen of your former domestic staff have been standing trial over allegations of missing jewellery. They were arrested in 2019, kept in custody, and have since been dragged through the courts without resolution. Along the way, one of them, Sahabi Liman, fell seriously ill in prison and has now died. That death is a reminder that justice delayed so severely becomes no justice at all. It should also make us look again at the entire case and the toll it has taken on all involved.
“This is no longer about the stolen jewellery, but about people who have been locked up and suffering for too long. Even if they had been found guilty, they would not have spent this long behind bars for such an offence. And if they are innocent, then we have all watched them suffer for nothing. Punishment must have proportion, and what is happening here is far beyond proportion.
“I therefore appeal to you as a mother figure in our nation to discontinue this case as an act of fairness, to let compassion guide your decision and allow these ex-workers a chance to rebuild their lives.”
PUNCH Online reports that 15 aides of the former first lady were held in the Okaka Custodial Centre, Bayelsa State, for allegedly stealing jewellery from the former First Lady.
Those affected are Williams Alami, Vincent Olabiyi, Ebuka Cosmos, John Dashe, Tamunokuro Abaku, Emmanuel Aginwa, Erema Deborah, Precious Kingsley, Tamunosiki Achese, Sunday Reginald, Vivian Golden, Emeka Benson, Boma Oba, Salomi Wareboka, and Sahabi Lima.
The defendants, brought before the High Court of Bayelsa in 2019, were accused of stealing seven gold bangles and jewellery, five Samsung air conditioners, two sets of upholstery chairs, and six Samsung flat-screen televisions valued at N200m.
The matter is still in court.
Adeyanju begs Patience Jonathan to withdraw jewellery theft case
