•Freed Sunday Jackson and Supreme Court
A death row inmate, Mr Sunday Jackson, who was sentenced to death by the Supreme Court of Nigeria for self-defense earlier this year, is set to regain his freedom today after Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri granted him a pardon on Tuesday.
The Commissioner for Justice, Afraimu Jingi, told our correspondent in an exclusive interview today that all administrative procedures for Jackson’s release were concluded yesterday, reports The PUNCH.
“Jackson is supposed to be out of prison today (Thursday), because all the needed documents were sent electronically and the hard copies were personally delivered to the authorities of the Correctional Centre for his release,” he said.
He added, “I don’t think Jackson is still in prison now, because the Adamawa State government has done everything that it is legally bound to do for his release.”
Fintiri on Tuesday announced that he granted an executive pardon to Jackson, who was sentenced to death by hanging for killing a herder who attacked him while he was grazing on his farm.
The governor explained that the pardons were granted in commemoration of the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Fintiri said the decision followed recommendations from the Adamawa State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, citing good conduct and significant behavioural improvement by the inmates.
“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 remainder of the sentences of five others,” the governor said.
The case attracted international attention. In November 2025, a member of the United States House of Representatives, Riley Moore, called on the Nigerian government to pardon Jackson, describing the killing as an act of self-defence.
Moore argued that Jackson had acted to protect his life during the confrontation and questioned the fairness of imposing the death penalty under such circumstances.
His case also featured in the US Congress during a debate on President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged Christian genocide in the country.
