The belated pardon granted to farmer Sunday Jackson by the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, is a welcome step toward justice and fairness. While the pardon comes years after an ordeal that exposed flaws in Nigeria’s judicial system, it provides some relief to Jackson, who spent years under the shadow of a death sentence for an act widely regarded as self defence. This intervention underscores the critical role of executive clemency in correcting judicial overreach and offers a reminder that the pursuit of justice cannot be left solely to the courts.
Governor Fintiri granted pardons to Jackson and two other inmates as part of activities marking Christmas and the New Year. The decision followed recommendations from the Adamawa State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, which cited the inmates’ significant improvement in behaviour and conduct while in custody. While the pardon is commendable, it also highlights the years of suffering Jackson endured due to a legal system that was slow, rigid, and arguably insensitive to context.
Jackson’s legal ordeal began in 2015 and paints a disturbing picture of how ordinary Nigerians can become ensnared in a legal process that seems disconnected from common sense and fairness. Jackson, a farmer in the Kodomti community of Numan Local Government Area, was tending to his crops when Buba Bawuro, a Fulani herdsman, allowed his cattle to stray into and destroy Jackson’s produce. When Jackson confronted Bawuro, the herdsman reportedly attacked him with a knife. Jackson, sustaining injuries in the altercation, overpowered the herdsman and killed him. His act, by all reasonable interpretations, was one of self defence.
The law on self defence is explicit. Section 33(2) of the Nigerian Constitution guarantees citizens the right to protect themselves from imminent danger, including using lethal force where necessary. Yet the judicial interpretation in Jackson’s case was inflexible. In February 2021, an Adamawa State High Court sentenced Jackson to death, a decision later upheld by the Court of Appeal in Yola on June 27, 2022. Ultimately, the Supreme Court, in a March 7, 2025 judgment, affirmed the death sentence. The court reasoned that Jackson’s actions went beyond self defence once he recovered the knife from the herdsman and retaliated. Justice Mohammed Idris, delivering the judgment, dismissed Jackson’s claims of provocation and self defence, asserting that an accused person cannot rely on both defences simultaneously for the same offence. The court framed Jackson’s response as a reprisal rather than a legitimate act of self protection.
This interpretation of the law, however, sparked widespread public outrage. Legal scholars, human rights advocates, and citizens argued that the court’s reasoning was narrow, disproportionate, and divorced from the realities on the ground. Justice Helen Ogunwumiju’s dissenting opinion on the Supreme Court panel was a rare voice of clarity. She acknowledged that Jackson acted in reasonable fear for his life and urged that clemency be considered. Her dissent highlighted the moral and legal complexities of self defence, emphasizing the importance of judicial discretion, proportionality, and empathy.
Jackson’s case also exposes systemic weaknesses in Nigeria’s criminal justice system. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Section 110, mandates speedy dispensation of criminal trials in high courts. Yet Jackson’s trial stretched for six years at the high court level alone, reflecting gross inefficiency and procedural delays. Such prolonged trials inflict profound psychological and economic harm on defendants and their families, undermining public confidence in the judiciary.
The pardon, though belated, is a victory for persistence, advocacy, and international pressure. Several individuals and organisations played a crucial role in securing Jackson’s release. Among them were United States based advocates Emmanuel Ogebe and William Devlin, along with US Congressman Riley Moore, who raised Jackson’s case during congressional hearings, media interviews, and private discussions with Nigerian officials. Reports also suggest that interventions at the highest political levels, including threats of potential action from then US President Donald Trump over perceived persecution of Christians in Nigeria, may have influenced the decision to grant clemency.
Beyond Jackson’s individual plight, his story underscores broader societal issues. Nigeria’s Middle Belt, particularly states such as Benue and Plateau, has witnessed repeated violent clashes between herders and farmers. Statistics indicate that herdsmen have killed thousands of farmers in the region. During the Christmas period of December 2023 alone, more than 150 people were reportedly killed in 26 Plateau villages. Such tragedies expose the urgent need for consistent, fair, and context sensitive legal interpretations. By punishing Jackson rather than addressing the underlying threats to farmers’ lives and property, the judiciary inadvertently empowered perpetrators and eroded trust in the system.
Jackson’s pardon now places responsibility on both the state and society to ensure his safety. Beyond the act of mercy, the Adamawa State Government should consider compensating Jackson for the ordeal he endured. Years spent under a death sentence, coupled with the trauma of being denied justice, constitute not only a personal tragedy but also a failure of the system. True justice demands that those wronged are restored, protected, and supported in rebuilding their lives.
Furthermore, Jackson’s case serves as a reminder that Nigerians must retain their constitutional right to self defence. Legal frameworks are meaningless if they fail to protect citizens from immediate threats to life and property. The judiciary must balance strict adherence to the law with reason, compassion, and real world context. Cases like Jackson’s cannot simply be reduced to abstract legal principles; they carry profound human consequences.
While the pardon is a positive development, the lessons from this case should not be ignored. It calls for judicial reform, enforcement of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, protection of farmers and vulnerable citizens, and an urgent review of how self defence cases are interpreted. The courts, legislators, and executive authorities have a shared responsibility to prevent such miscarriages of justice from recurring.
Sunday Jackson’s story is not just a narrative of personal vindication. It is a cautionary tale for the nation, a critique of procedural delays, and a reflection of the social inequities that persist in Nigeria. As Jackson reclaims his freedom, society must ensure he is not only safe but also compensated, celebrated, and remembered as a symbol of resilience in the face of systemic failure. Only then can justice truly be said to have been served.
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