The Adamawa State Government has granted pardon on Sunday Jackson, the individual who was sentenced to death for the 2015 killing of a Fulani herdsman.
Jackson, a farmer, had consistently argued that he acted in self defence after being attacked on his farm by the deceased.
He was among inmates pardoned by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri under the Prerogative of Mercy provisions of the Nigerian constitution, drawing widespread reactions from the public and international community.
When the U.S. government recently accused Nigeria of allowing persecution of christian minorities in the North, the case of Sunday Jackson was among those used to justify the allegations
Sunday Jackson, a farmer from Adamawa State, was involved in a violent confrontation with a herder on his farm in 2015 that resulted in the death of his alleged attacker.
He consistently asserted that he was attacked and acted in self defence, but the Courts ruled it otherwise, and convicted him of murder and culpable homicide
The Nigerian Supreme Court later upheld his death sentence, even as human rights groups, civil society organizations, and community members continued to call for a review of the case.
His story was controversial; and for those who had been victims of farmers-herder clashes, it resonated strongly.
So when the Supreme Court affirmed Jackson’s death sentence, it generated legal debate on what constitutes “self defence”. It also generated public condemnation in some quarters leading to local and international advocacy for his release
Some had linked the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern to the Sunday Jackson judicial ordeal, as international pressure mounted on Nigeria
The pardon granted Jackson may have come after sustained diplomatic and humanitarian advocacy, including the intervention of the Government of the United States of America, which reportedly engaged Nigerian authorities on the matter.
Following a review by the Adamawa State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri approved Mr. Sunday’s pardon, citing compassion, justice, and the circumstances surrounding the case.
The decision has been widely welcomed across the State, with many praising Governor Fintiri for what they described as a courageous and humane act.
Rights advocates say the pardon highlights the importance of mercy in governance, especially in cases involving self-defense and prolonged incarceration.
The Adamawa State Government noted that it remains committed to justice, fairness, and the protection of citizens’ rights, while also upholding the rule of law.
Editor: Ken Eseni
