United States federal lawmaker Riley Moore has urged authorities to free a Nigerian national, Sunday Jackson, who was sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of culpable homicide for killing an armed herdsman who allegedly assaulted him on his farm.
In an interview with Fox News, Mr Moore said there were encouraging developments during a recent meeting between U.S. officials and a Nigerian delegation headed by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
“The meeting with the Nigerian delegation was productive, and it sounded like they’re open to partnering with the United States to stop these killings. I think we did make some progress,” Mr Moore said.
He further stated, “But there’s a lot of things they can do, and one of the first steps is releasing Sunday Jackson, and another one is working with us to disarm these militants in the middle-belt of the country—the Fulani Islamic radicals that are there.”
My Jackson’s case
Mr Jackson was arrested by the police and prosecuted for culpable homicide at the Yola High Court in Adamawa State, an offence punishable by death under Section 211 of the northern Nigerian penal code.
During his court appearance, Mr Jackson acknowledged that the attacker died during their encounter, maintaining that he committed no crime.
The prosecution asked trial judge Fatima Ahmed Tafida to convict him based on his confession, while the defence argued for his acquittal, insisting he acted in self-defence.
In February 2021, the judge held that Mr Jackson’s admission to killing the herdsman warranted a death sentence by hanging. She dismissed his self-defence claim, arguing he should have escaped after overpowering the attacker.
Lawyer’s criticise Jackson’s conviction
Mr Jackson’s conviction has drawn criticism from multiple lawyers and activists, who say the judgment establishes a troubling precedent for future cases.
As he remains on death row, his sole path to release is a state pardon from the Adamawa State governor, issued through the state’s attorney general.
In the same interview, Mr Moore also condemned the recent kidnapping of schoolgirls and teachers in northern Nigeria.
He urged the Nigerian government to disarm “the radical Muslim Fulani militants terrorising the Middle Belt.”
