Sunday Jackson was a farmer from Adamawa State who found himself in a life-or-death situation while working on his farm in Kodomti, Numan LGA. According to his account in court, he was suddenly attacked by a herder who stabbed him in the leg and at the back of his head. Injured and fighting for his life, Sunday struggled with his attacker, managed to overpower him, seized the knife, and in the process of defending himself, stabbed the man, who later died from the injuries.
Instead of being treated as someone who acted in self-defence, Sunday Jackson was arrested and charged with culpable homicide. His case went through years of trial:
- He was convicted and sentenced to death by the High Court in Yola.
- The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction.
On March 7, 2025, the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirmed the death sentence by a 4–1 majority decision
The Supreme Court held that Sunday exceeded the limit of self-defence because, in their view, the threat had diminished after he gained control of the weapon. One Justice dissented, arguing that Sunday’s actions were consistent with the reality of a violent struggle for survival.
The case has sparked national outrage, with many questioning whether the legal system fairly interpreted the circumstances of self-defence, especially considering that Sunday was already wounded, alone on his farm, and fighting for his life. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) publicly condemned the judgment, citing sections of the Adamawa State Penal Code on self-defence and also pointing out trial delays that violated constitutional timelines.
You can read the full legal summary of the case here:
