ADAMAWA GOVERNOR GRANTS CLEMENCY TO SUNDAY JACKSON, FREES FARMER SENTENCED TO DEATH
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
Sunday Jackson, the Adamawa State farmer who was sentenced to death for killing a herdsman in what he claimed was self-defence, has been released from prison following a gubernatorial pardon.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri approved the pardon on Sunday, exercising his prerogative of mercy under Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution, after months of sustained appeals from community leaders, human rights organisations and members of the victim’s family.
Jackson had spent more than a decade in custody after he was attacked on his farm in 2015, an incident that resulted in the death of the herdsman during a violent altercation. Despite his claim of self-defence, the case progressed through the courts and culminated in a death sentence upheld by the Supreme Court, triggering widespread public outcry.
The case ignited a national debate on the limits of self-defence, farmers–herders conflicts, and the broader questions of justice and proportionality within Nigeria’s legal system.
Announcing the decision, sources close to the state government said the pardon was granted in the interest of justice, mercy and reconciliation, taking into account the circumstances surrounding the incident and the prolonged period Jackson had already spent in prison.
Supporters of the pardon have described the development as a victory for compassion and a step towards healing long-standing tensions linked to rural violence.
Jackson is expected to reunite with his family shortly, bringing closure to a case that has remained a symbol of Nigeria’s contentious self-defence and security debates.
Further details are expected to follow..
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