By Adenike Lawal
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has granted a state pardon to a farmer, Sunday Jackson, who was on death row for killing a herdsman, a case widely believed to have involved self-defence.
Jackson, whose conviction had attracted public sympathy and calls for clemency, was held at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre before the governor’s intervention.
The governor also pardoned two other inmates, Joseph Eugene of the Yola Medium Security Custodial Centre and Maxwell Ibrahim, currently serving his sentence at the Kaduna Medium Security Custodial Centre.
The decision was announced on Tuesday in Yola in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, as part of activities marking the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
In addition, Fintiri approved the remission of the remaining jail terms of five inmates serving sentences at the Numan and Jada Medium Security Custodial Centres.
The statement said the action followed recommendations from the Adamawa State Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy and was based on reports of good conduct by the beneficiaries.
The pardons have been welcomed by residents and rights advocates, particularly in Jackson’s case, which had been viewed as controversial.
