Adamawa State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has granted pardon to three inmates, including Sunday Jackson, who was previously sentenced to death, in a move coinciding with Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Jackson, a farmer who had been incarcerated at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja, was pardoned alongside Joseph Eugene of the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Yola (New), and Maxwell Ibrahim, serving at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kaduna. In addition, Governor Fintiri approved the remission of the remaining jail terms of five other inmates: Joshua James Audo, Adamu Ibrahim, Mohammed Abubakar, Ibrahim Usman, and Saidu Abubakar, serving in Numan and Jada.
The pardon of Jackson comes after international attention was drawn to his case. Earlier this year, U.S. Congressman Riley Moore had appealed to Nigerian authorities, including then-President Bola Tinubu, requesting clemency for Jackson.
Moore highlighted that Jackson acted in self-defence when he killed an assailant, identified as a Fulani militant, on his farm, arguing that the death sentence was unjust while other armed militants faced no legal consequences. The appeal from the U.S. lawmaker amplified advocacy for Jackson’s release and contributed to national and international awareness of his case.
Governor Fintiri said the pardons and sentence remissions followed recommendations by the Adamawa State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, noting the beneficiaries had shown remarkable improvement in conduct and behaviour.
“Therefore, 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 who have served various jail terms and have significantly demonstrated good conduct over the years,” the governor stated.
