Governor Fintiri Grants Pardon to Adamawa Farmer Sentenced to Death for Killing Herdsman in Self-defence
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, on Tuesday granted a Christmas pardon to Sunday Jackson the farmer who was controversially sentenced to death after killing a herder while defending himself during an attack on his farm.
Jackson who is in Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre has been pardoned alongside Joseph Eugene from the Medium Security Custodial Centre Yola new and Maxwell Ibrahim serving at the Medium Security Custodial Center in Kaduna.
Others who had the reminder of their sentences remitted whole include Joshua James Audo, Adamu Ibrahim, Mohammed Abubakar, Ibrahim Usman and Saidu Abubakar serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Numan and Medium Security Custodial Centre, Jada.
Governor Fintiri said the inmates had demonstrated significant improvement in their behaviour and conduct.
“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 reminder of the sentences of five others who have served various jail terms and have significantly demonstrated good conduct over the years,” he said.
Jackson’s case had sparkled widespread outrage among human rights activists and farming communities, who insisted he acted in self-defence. Despite this, he was convicted and later transferred to Kuje Medium Security Custodial Center in Abuja, where he spent years on death row.
Over time, the case came to symbolise what critics described as the criminalisation of farmers who are attacked while protecting their lives and livelihoods, fuelling calls for justice and legal reform.
