By custody.
The plea, shared on Adeyanju’s social media platforms, shows the human cost of what he describes as “justice delayed,” calling for compassion in the interest of fairness and humanity.
The case dates back to 2019, when the 15 individuals, allegedly former employees of Mrs. Jonathan—were arrested in connection with the disappearance of jewellery from her Bayelsa residence. Since then, they have been detained and subjected to a protracted trial in Bayelsa State courts, with no resolution in sight.
Adeyanju’s letter specifically references the death of Sahabi Liman, one of the accused, who reportedly fell seriously ill while incarcerated and passed away recently, showing the severe toll of prolonged detention.”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,” Adeyanju wrote in the 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.”
He emphasized that the incident serves as a stark reminder that “justice delayed so severely becomes no justice at all.”Adeyanju argued that even if the defendants were ultimately convicted, the sentences for such an offense would not exceed the time they have already spent behind bars. “This is no longer about stolen jewellery but about human beings who have suffered far beyond proportion,” he stated, appealing to Mrs. Jonathan’s reputation as a “mother figure” in the nation.
He urged her to discontinue the case as an act of mercy, allowing the remaining defendants to rebuild their lives and avoid further tragedy.The activist’s intervention has drawn attention amid ongoing discussions in Nigeria about prison overcrowding, the right to a speedy trial, and the ethical responsibilities of complainants in long-running legal disputes. Legal experts have noted that while theft cases involving high-profile individuals can sometimes linger due to procedural complexities, the death in custody raises serious questions about the welfare of detainees and the proportionality of punishment.As of now, there has been no public response from Dame Patience Jonathan or her representatives. The case continues to unfold in the Bayelsa State High Court, with the remaining 14 defendants still awaiting judgment.
