By Eke Chioma
Yola, Nigeria — The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the death sentence of Sunday Jackson, a farmer from Dong community in Demsa Local Government Area, Adamawa State, drawing sharp condemnation from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and reigniting debates over judicial fairness and self-defense laws. Jackson was convicted for the 2014 killing of Fulani herdsman Buba Ardo Bawuro, which he insists was an act of self-defense during a violent confrontation.
According to court records, Jackson was working on his farm when Bawuro, allegedly armed with a knife, attacked him. Jackson claims he disarmed his assailant during the struggle, leading to Bawuro’s fatal injury. However, the Supreme Court ruled that Jackson had “reasonable opportunity to flee” and rejected his self-defense argument, affirming a 2021 Adamawa High Court verdict sentencing him to death by hanging. The March 7, 2025, ruling has sparked widespread outrage, with human rights groups and religious leaders demanding justice.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Kaduna, Rev. John Hayab, Chairman of the Northern CAN, denounced the judgment as a “grave travesty of justice” and urged Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to grant Jackson an immediate pardon. “This ruling blatantly disregards Sections 23 and 24 of the Adamawa State Penal Code, which protect individuals acting in self-defense. Jackson endured a decade of legal battles rooted in a flawed interpretation of the law. We implore the governor to intervene and correct this injustice,” Hayab declared.
The case has drawn international scrutiny, with human rights advocates condemning the verdict. During an Arise TV interview, Emmanuel Ogebe, an international human rights lawyer, warned that the ruling sets a “dangerous precedent” for self-defense claims in Nigeria. “Jackson retrieved the weapon from his attacker—this is textbook self-defense. To sentence him to death is not only unjust but a gross miscarriage of justice,” Ogebe argued.
Echoing his sentiments, U.S.-based activist William Devlin criticized Nigeria’s judiciary, stating, “Sunday Jackson is unequivocally innocent. This ruling exposes systemic failures in protecting vulnerable citizens from flawed prosecutions.”
With all legal appeals exhausted, Jackson’s fate now hinges on Governor Fintiri’s discretionary power to grant clemency. As pressure mounts from civil society groups, legal experts, and religious organizations, the case has become a focal point in broader calls for judicial reform and clarity on self-defense rights in Nigeria.
Northern CAN’s condemnation adds to growing demands for executive intervention, underscoring the deepening divide between public sentiment and the judiciary’s interpretation of the law. The outcome may set a critical precedent for similar cases amid Nigeria’s ongoing tensions between farmers and herders.
