Prominent activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju has issued a public appeal to Patience Jonathan, wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, calling for an end to a protracted legal case that has resulted in the death of a former domestic worker while in detention.
The case centres on Sahabi Liman, who was among 15 domestic staff members arrested in 2019 and charged with serious criminal offences, including conspiracy to commit murder, armed robbery, burglary, and theft. The charges stemmed from allegations that the group stole items valued at over N200 million from the Jonathan household, including high-value jewellery, air conditioning units, upholstered furniture, and flat-screen televisions.
Liman’s death in custody marks a tragic milestone in what has become one of Nigeria’s most prolonged pre-trial detention cases. The deceased worker had fallen ill while being held at correctional facilities, highlighting concerns about prison conditions and healthcare access for inmates awaiting trial.
Adeyanju’s letter, published on his Facebook platform on Tuesday, draws attention to the extraordinary number of adjournments that have plagued the case. With over 40 postponements recorded since 2019, the legal proceedings have stretched far beyond reasonable timelines, effectively turning pre-trial detention into a form of punishment without conviction.
The activist lawyer’s intervention highlights a broader crisis within Nigeria’s justice system, where prolonged pre-trial detention has become commonplace despite constitutional provisions guaranteeing speedy trials. The case exemplifies how procedural delays can undermine the fundamental principle that individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Appeal for Compassionate Justice
In his direct appeal to the former First Lady, Adeyanju emphasised the disproportionate nature of the punishment already endured by the accused. “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,” he stated, encapsulating the human rights concerns at the heart of his intervention.
The lawyer’s argument centres on the principle of proportionality in justice administration. By his calculation, the six years already spent in detention far exceed any sentence that might have been imposed had the defendants been found guilty of the alleged crimes, effectively rendering the legal process punitive rather than justice-seeking.
The case raises fundamental questions about the balance between the prosecution of alleged crimes and the protection of defendants’ rights. While the alleged theft involved substantial sums, the prolonged detention without resolution has transformed what should be a straightforward criminal case into a human rights concern.
Adeyanju’s public intervention reflects growing advocacy attention to cases where Nigeria’s slow-moving justice system effectively punishes individuals before their guilt or innocence has been established. The death in custody adds urgency to these concerns, demonstrating how procedural delays can have irreversible consequences.
The activist’s appeal to Mrs. Jonathan goes beyond legal technicalities to invoke humanitarian considerations. By calling for the case to be dropped, Adeyanju is asking the former First Lady to weigh the human cost of continued prosecution against whatever justice might be achieved through further legal proceedings.
His plea for the surviving defendants to be given “an opportunity to rebuild their lives” recognises that, regardless of the case’s eventual outcome, these individuals have already paid a significant price through their prolonged detention. The death of their colleague serves as a stark reminder of the ultimate stakes involved in such protracted legal battles.
The case has potential implications beyond the immediate parties involved. How Mrs. Jonathan responds to Adeyanju’s appeal could influence how similar cases involving powerful accusers and vulnerable defendants are handled in the future. It also highlights the need for judicial reforms to prevent such lengthy pre-trial detentions.
The activist’s decision to make his appeal public rather than through private channels suggests an intention to use the case as a catalyst for broader conversations about justice reform in Nigeria. By invoking both legal principles and humanitarian concerns, Adeyanju has framed the issue in terms that transcend the specific allegations to address systemic problems within the country’s legal framework.
The outcome of this appeal will be closely watched by human rights advocates and legal observers as a test of whether Nigeria’s justice system can balance the pursuit of accountability with the protection of fundamental human rights, even in cases involving high-profile accusers and serious allegations.
