CAN Condemns Death Sentence For Adamawa Farmer Over Herder’s Death

The Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 Northern States and Abuja has condemned the Supreme Court’s judgment sentencing Sunday Jackson, a farmer from Adamawa State, to death by hanging for self-defence.

THE WHISTLER reports that the Supreme Court had on Friday, March 7th, upheld the death sentence of Sunday Jackson, a farmer in his 30s, for killing a Fulani Herdsman in what he claimed was an act of self-defence.

But in a statement by Rev. John Joseph Hayab, Chairman of Northern CAN, in Kaduna on Tuesday, the organisation described the judgment as a “grave travesty of justice” and appealed to the Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to pardon Jackson.

“We are shocked and disappointed by the Supreme Court’s judgment, which we believe is contrary to the provisions of the Adamawa State Penal Code, Sections 23 & 24.

“We appeal to Governor Fintiri to exercise his prerogative of mercy and pardon Sunday Jackson, who has suffered greatly due to the misinterpretation of the law and the prolonged trial,” Rev. Hayab said.

According to the statement, Jackson was attacked by a group of criminals on his farm and fought back in self-defence, overpowering his attackers, which led to the death of one Ardo Bawuro.

Despite his plea of self-defence, Jackson was charged and sentenced to death.

The statement noted that the trial judge misinterpreted Section 23 of the Adamawa State Penal Code, stating that Jackson had the option to flee instead of fighting back in self-defence.

“This is a clear distortion of logic, as Jackson was stabbed in the leg and was momentarily handicapped,” the statement said.

CAN also expressed concern over the prolonged trial, which lasted six and a half years, with Jackson spending 167 days waiting for judgment.

“This is a clear violation of the 1999 constitution, which prescribes a 90-day limit for delivering judgments,” the statement added.

Rev. Hayab described the judgment as a “miscarriage of justice” and appealed to Governor Fintiri to intervene.

“We believe that Governor Fintiri has the power to correct this injustice and grant Sunday Jackson a pardon. We appeal to him to exercise his prerogative of mercy and bring an end to this tragic episode,” he stated.

The statement also noted that Jackson’s case is a textbook example of miscarriage of justice, saying that “the facts of this case are a clear example of how the justice system can fail. We hope that Governor Fintiri will take immediate action to correct this injustice and grant Sunday Jackson a pardon.”

The statement read, “The attention of the 19 Northern States and Abuja Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been drawn to a recent Supreme Court’s judgment which sentenced Mr Sunday Jackson, a farmer from Adamawa State to death by hanging for self-defence, a decision we strongly believe is contrary to the provisions of Adamawa State Penal Code, Sections 23 & 24.

“Sunday Jackson was reportedly working on his farm when he was attacked by a group of criminals. In an attempt to defend himself, he fought back and overpowered his attackers, which led to the death of one Ardo Bawuro. However, despite Sunday’s plea of self-defence, he was charged under Section 211 of the Adamawa State Penal Code Laws for intentionally killing the deceased and sentenced to death, which we consider a grave travesty of justice.

“Sunday was arraigned on 21-11-2018 on a one-count charge of causing the death of one Ardo Bawuro by stabbing him with a knife thrice on the neck with the intention of causing his death. The knife that Sunday used to stab Bawuro actually belonged to the same Ardo Bawuro that he had succeeded in collecting.

“The statement of facts of the appellant’s brief of argument was that the defendant testified for himself on the 27th day of February 2020, and the matter was adjourned to the 27th day of August 2020 for the adoption of final written addresses of the prosecution and defence counsels. Judgment was delivered on the 10th day of February, 2021.

“A calculation of the time between the adoption of final addresses of counsels on August 27th, 2020, and the delivery of judgment on February 10, 2021, amounts to in excess of 167 days.

“In view of the foregone, the 19 Northern States and Abuja Christian Association of Nigeria appeal to His Excellency, the executive governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, kindly, in the exercise of his constitutional duties and the prerogative of mercy, and in the Spirit of Peacebuilding and reconciliation, which both the state and the nation now desperately need, to please pardon Mr Sunday Jackson.”

CAN Condemns Death Sentence For Adamawa Farmer Over Herder’s Death is first published on The Whistler Newspaper