Deji Adeyanju Begs Patience Jonathan to Withdraw $5m Jewellery Suit

Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has made a passionate appeal to former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, urging her to show compassion and withdraw the long-running theft case against her former domestic staff. Adeyanju’s plea comes after the reported death of one of the 15 accused persons, Sahabi Liman, who allegedly died in prison custody after a prolonged illness.

In an open letter titled “Open Letter by Deji Adeyanju to Dame Patience Jonathan,” the activist argued that the case has dragged on for over five years without a conclusive verdict, turning a legal process into a form of punishment that is “far beyond proportion.”

“This is no longer about the stolen jewelry but about people who have been locked up and suffering for too long,” Adeyanju wrote. “Even if they had been found guilty, they would not have spent this long behind bars for such an offense. And if they are innocent, then we have all watched them suffer for nothing.”

The 15 domestic workers were arrested in 2019 and accused of stealing jewellery and other valuables worth an estimated N200 million. The case, which is being heard at a Bayelsa State High Court, has been complicated by additional charges of armed robbery and conspiracy to murder, which have prevented the accused from being granted bail.

Adeyanju concluded his letter by urging Dame Jonathan to consider the human cost of the prolonged trial and to use her influence to bring an end to the case.