By Muh'd Shafiu Saleh The Gongola Peoples Forum (GPF) has appealed to Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to exe...
By Muh'd Shafiu Saleh
The Gongola Peoples Forum (GPF) has appealed to Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, to exercise his constitutional prerogative of mercy and grant a pardon to Sunday Jackson, who faces execution following a Supreme Court ruling.
GPF Chairman, Eng. Markus Gundiri, described Jackson’s conviction as a harsh outcome of an unfortunate self-defense incident. Speaking at a press conference in Yola, Gundiri emphasized that despite Jackson’s claim of self-defense, the courts ruled against him, sentencing him to death—a decision upheld by the Supreme Court with a split verdict.
The case stems from a fatal altercation between Jackson and a nomadic herdsman. According to the GPF, Jackson was unarmed and attacked by the herder, who inflicted injuries on him. In self-defense, Jackson wrestled the knife from his attacker and struck back, leading to the herder’s death. The Supreme Court ruled that Jackson should have thrown away the weapon and fled instead of retaliating.
GPF argues that the ruling ignores the realities of self-preservation and highlights extenuating circumstances, including Jackson’s decade-long incarceration, the hardship faced by his family, and the fact that the judgment was not unanimous among the Supreme Court justices.
Citing Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution, which grants state governors the power to pardon convicted individuals, the GPF urged Governor Fintiri to intervene, stating that Jackson has suffered enough and deserves a second chance.
The forum warned that similar conflicts between farmers and herders are common in the Gongola region and called for a fairer application of justice in such cases. They implored the governor to grant Jackson a state pardon and spare him from execution, arguing that the legal system had failed him.
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