ON Friday, March 7 2025, Nigeria’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence handed down to Sunday Jackson, a farmer in his 30s. Jackson had been convicted of killing Fulani herdsman Ardo Bawuro during a violent altercation on his farmland. Despite pleading self-defence, Jackson was charged under Section 211 of the Adamawa State Penal Code, which deals with intentional homicide, and sentenced to death.
The ruling has sparked widespread outrage, particularly because it appears to contradict Sections 23 and 24 of the same Penal Code, which provide for self-defence and provocation. Many are questioning whether justice was truly served or whether Jackson is yet another victim of a flawed and biased judicial process.
Prolonged trial violated Jackson’s rights
Jackson’s legal ordeal highlights a critical issue in Nigeria’s justice system: unnecessary delays in delivering justice. He spent six and a half years in prison awaiting judgment, a direct violation of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. The law mandates that judgments be delivered within 90 days, yet Jackson languished in pre-trial detention for years. His prolonged trial is an example of the inefficiency and disregard for due process that often characterise Nigeria’s courts.
A miscarriage of justice?
Many legal experts and human rights advocates argue that Jackson’s conviction was a miscarriage of justice. He claimed he acted in self-defence to protect himself and his land. However, the courts refused to accept his defence, raising concerns about fairness and bias, especially against rural farmers and individuals without wealth or connections to secure robust legal representation.
The Supreme Court’s decision has intensified fears that the justice system disproportionately punishes the poor and marginalised. Critics argue that Jackson’s case shows how the death penalty in Nigeria is applied inconsistently, often ignoring mitigating circumstances like self-defence.
Capital punishment under scrutiny
Nigeria’s use of capital punishment remains a contentious issue. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has repeatedly raised concerns about the country’s application of the death penalty. Cases like Jackson’s underscore the risk of wrongful convictions and the irreversible consequences of capital punishment.
Human rights advocates stress that Nigeria must align its justice system with international standards, ensuring fair trials and offering alternatives to the death sentence. The Jackson case exemplifies why many are calling for a moratorium on capital punishment in Nigeria.
A call for judicial reform
Jackson’s case is a wake-up call. Nigeria urgently needs judicial reform to guarantee fair trials and uphold constitutional rights. Without reform, public confidence in the judiciary will continue to erode.
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold Sunday Jackson’s death sentence represents a grave injustice. For Nigeria to claim adherence to democratic and human rights principles, it must revisit this decision and explore alternative sentencing that respects life and justice.
Erasmus Ikhide is a Lagos-based Nigerian freelance journalist
