Femi Ashekun/
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has come under fire for its delayed intervention in the case of Sunday Jackson, a farmer sentenced to death by hanging for killing a Fulani herdsman in what many argue was self-defence.
While CAN’s Northern chapter has now issued a plea for clemency, critics, including public affairs commentator, Gbenro Adegbola, have accused the organisation of failing to act when it mattered most.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Adegbola did not hold back, describing CAN’s belated effort as “too late to make a difference” after Jackson’s Supreme Court death sentence had been upheld.
“This was a fight they should have picked earlier, when it could have changed the course of justice. Where was CAN when the case was first being mishandled in the courts?” Adegbola asked, echoing the frustrations of many Nigerians who feel let down by an institution that claims to represent the oppressed.
Sunday Jackson’s ordeal began when an altercation between him and a herdsman allegedly destroying his farm escalated, leading to the herdsman’s death.
Jackson, who maintained he acted in self-defence, was arrested, tried, and eventually sentenced to death—a verdict upheld by the Supreme Court. The decision has since reignited debates about justice, property rights, and self-defence laws in the country.
As Jackson’s fate now rests in the hands of Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, CAN has finally stepped forward, urging the governor to exercise his prerogative of mercy.
Northern CAN described Jackson’s situation as a “gross miscarriage of justice,” citing his prolonged legal ordeal and the questionable interpretation of self-defence in the courts.
The appeal was contained in a press statement by the Nineteen Northern States and FCT CAN, signed by the Chairman, Rev Dr John Joseph Hayab, and Bishop Mohammed Naga, Secretary.
However, their intervention, coming at the eleventh hour, has drawn criticism for its lack of timeliness.
Dr. William Devlin, a U.S.-based human rights advocate, added an international dimension to the case during an interview with Arise TV. He called Jackson’s conviction a travesty, pointing out that self-defence is a universal human right.
“This farmer was protecting his livelihood and his life. To punish him with death for that is a stain on Nigeria’s justice system,” Devlin said.
His comments have amplified calls for Jackson’s clemency and reform of the nation’s judicial processes.
The case has also highlighted broader systemic failures, with many questioning whether Nigeria’s justice system disproportionately favors certain groups over others.
Critics argue that the swift conviction of Jackson contrasts sharply with the slow or non-existent prosecution of herdsmen involved in similar disputes.
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