Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has granted a pardon to Sunday Jackson, a farmer who was sentenced to death, as part of measures to mark the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The decision was announced in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Humwashi Wonosikou.
According to the statement, Jackson, who is currently held at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, was pardoned alongside Joseph Eugene from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Yola and Maxwell Ibrahim, who is serving his sentence at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kaduna.
The development followed international attention after a member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, urged the Nigerian government to pardon Jackson. Moore described the conviction as unjust, arguing that Jackson acted in self-defence during the incident that led to the loss of his attacker’s life.
“I would urge the Nigerian government to take a look at pardoning Sunday Jackson, who is an individual who was fighting for his own life, defending his life against one of these Fulani militants,” Moore, a Republican, said during a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on President Donald Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.
“That Fulani militant lost his life in that struggle, and now that person, Sunday Jackson, is facing the death penalty. Where is the justice in that?”
In addition to the three individuals granted full pardon, the governor also approved the remission of sentences for Joshua James Audo, Adamu Ibrahim, Mohammed Abubakar, Ibrahim Usman and Saidu Abubakar, who are serving various jail terms at the Medium Security Custodial Centres in Numan and Jada.
Governor Fintiri said the decision was based on recommendations from the Adamawa State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy and the inmates’ demonstrated improvement in behaviour while in custody.
“Therefore, in the exercise of my prerogative of mercy as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and in line with the recommendations of the Adamawa State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy.
“I have granted pardon to three persons and directed the remission of the remainder of the sentences of five others who have served various jail terms and have significantly demonstrated good conduct over the years,” he said.
What you should know
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s decision forms part of a traditional end-of-year exercise of mercy aimed at decongesting custodial centres and rewarding inmates who have shown remorse and good conduct.
Sunday Jackson’s pardon attracted particular attention due to international advocacy and debates around self-defence and justice.
The move reflects the governor’s constitutional powers and follows recommendations by the state’s advisory council on mercy.
