Dr. Abejide Olusegun
An antelope was sprinting frantically when an elephant called out, “Why are you running so fast?” The antelope responded, “The police are arresting all the goats in the villages, and the justice system is sentencing them to death based on false evidence.” The elephant replied, “But you’re not a goat!” The antelope explained, “With the way the judiciary works in Nigeria, it would take me 20 years to prove that I’m not.” Alarmed by this, the elephant also began to run. This is because the Fulanis own the Nigerian justice system presently.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the death sentence of Sunday Jackson, a farmer who defended himself against a violent Fulani attacker. This ruling, following ten years of legal persecution, highlights the deep-seated biases within Nigeria’s criminal justice system. It represents not only a miscarriage of justice but also a blatant disregard for constitutional protections, human rights, and the principles of self-defense.
Jackson, who was unarmed, was viciously attacked with a knife by a Fulani herdsman. In an instinctive act of survival, he wrestled the weapon from his assailant and defended himself, resulting in the attacker’s death. Instead of being recognized as a victim of aggression, Jackson was arrested, held in pre-trial detention for seven years, and ultimately sentenced to death in 2021. His trial was plagued by significant irregularities, including unconstitutional delays and judicial bias.
Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution stipulates that a court ruling must be delivered within 90 days after final arguments. Yet, Jackson’s verdict was delayed by an unjustifiable 167 days, making the judgment voidable under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Furthermore, the presiding judge, Justice Fatima Ahmed Tafida, substituted personal biases for factual evidence, claiming Jackson “had the option to flee” despite medical evidence indicating that his injuries made escape impossible. This ruling not only contradicts legal principles of self-defense but also sends a chilling message to rural communities facing violent attacks.
The systemic bias in Nigeria’s judiciary has raised international concern. While Fulani herdsmen have perpetrated mass killings across the country, particularly during the Buhari administration, none have faced meaningful prosecution. Even as herdsmen massacred 20 farmers in Ondo State just days ago, impunity continues to prevail. In stark contrast, individuals from the Middle Belt, South, or East who act in self-defense are quickly condemned to death. This judicial hypocrisy has fueled national outrage and calls for urgent intervention.
Nigeria’s judiciary now faces scrutiny on the global stage. Human rights organizations and legal experts are elevating this case to the International Court of Justice, seeking to expose the systemic biases within Nigeria’s legal framework. If Sunday Jackson’s execution proceeds, it will not only solidify Nigeria’s reputation for judicial injustice but also provoke public resistance against a system that punishes self-defense while protecting aggressors.
A country where the House of Representatives proposed a quick bill to release the criminal leader of the Meyiti-Allah within a week of his arrest, yet has never taken similar action for Kanu, who has been imprisoned by the DSS for years. Kanu was kidnapped in Kenya by the Buhari regime, with the complicity of some of his kinsmen. This is a nation that arrests Fulani Boko Haram members, later releases them, and even rewards them by enlisting them into the military, while individuals from Yoruba or Igbo groups who merely agitate for the freedom of their lands from the oppressive grip of the Fulanis remain imprisoned. What a biased nation.
President Bola Tinubu, state governors, and judicial authorities must take immediate action. This injustice cannot be overlooked. Sunday Jackson must not die; his case must be overturned, and those responsible for this biased ruling must be held accountable. Nigeria cannot afford to let its judiciary become an instrument of oppression. If justice is denied, public trust in the system will erode, leading to dire consequences. The world is watching.
The severe inequities in the Nigerian judicial system have long sparked public outcry. The country’s criminal justice system has continually failed to protect those most in need, exhibiting clear bias in favor of certain groups while relentlessly punishing others. The case of Sunday Jackson is not an isolated incident; it is part of a troubling trend that places innocent individuals at the mercy of a corrupt and inefficient system.
Reports from across Nigeria indicate that Fulani herdsmen, emboldened by government inaction, are terrorizing farming communities with impunity. Entire villages have been burned, and women and children have been slaughtered, while those who dare to defend themselves face swift and severe punishment from the authorities. Yet, despite overwhelming evidence of these atrocities, there are no convictions against the Fulani attackers. This selective justice has bred frustration and disillusionment, particularly among Nigerians from the Middle Belt and southern regions, who have been disproportionately affected by these violent invasions.
In contrast, whenever a farmer or villager fights back in self-defense, the full force of the judicial system is brought against them. Sunday Jackson’s sentencing follows a pattern of judicial decisions that prioritize protecting perpetrators over safeguarding the rights and safety of victims. This bias has effectively stripped entire communities of their fundamental right to self-defense, leaving them vulnerable to repeated attacks.
This miscarriage of justice extends beyond Jackson’s case; it highlights the broader structural failures of Nigeria’s legal and political institutions. The manipulation of the judicial system to suppress self-defense and resistance against attacks reveals an underlying agenda—one that appears to support the continued subjugation of vulnerable populations. As these cases accumulate, it becomes increasingly clear that the Nigerian government has failed in its duty to protect its citizens, choosing instead to align itself with those committing these heinous acts.
The actions of the judiciary in cases like Jackson’s contradict fundamental human rights principles outlined in international law. The right to self-defense is universally acknowledged as a legal principle. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms individuals’ rights to protect themselves from immediate threats to their life and safety. By criminalizing self-defense, the Nigerian judiciary not only violates its constitutional provisions but also disregards international norms it is obliged to uphold.
Legal experts and international organizations are beginning to document these injustices to subject Nigeria’s judiciary to international scrutiny. The International Court of Justice, along with other global human rights bodies, has been alerted to the concerning trend of judicial oppression in Nigeria. The international community must intervene to ensure that those in power do not continue to weaponize the legal system against the vulnerable.
The Nigerian government must confront the long-term ramifications of its failure to address these injustices. The erosion of public trust in the judiciary presents a serious threat that could lead to civil unrest and lawlessness. When people view the legal system as a facilitator of oppression rather than a provider of justice, they are likely to resort to alternative means to secure their rights and safety. If courts continue to act as instruments of selective persecution, citizens will be compelled to take matters into their own hands, resulting in heightened tensions, retaliatory violence, and overall destabilization of the country.
Immediate action is required to rectify this injustice. The case of Sunday Jackson must be re-evaluated, and his death sentence overturned. Additionally, there must be a thorough review of judicial practices to address the evident bias within the system. Judges who consistently display favoritism and neglect constitutional provisions must be held accountable and removed from the bench. A just society cannot tolerate individuals who exploit their judicial authority to perpetuate oppression.
Furthermore, a concerted effort must be made to ensure equal application of the law. The Nigerian judiciary must prove its commitment to prosecuting violent criminals, regardless of their ethnic or regional backgrounds. If Fulani herdsmen, responsible for numerous murders, are not facing death sentences, then a farmer defending himself against an armed attacker should not be executed. Justice must be applied uniformly; otherwise, it is not justice at all.
Civil society organizations, religious leaders, and concerned citizens must persist in demanding accountability and judicial fairness. Silence in the face of oppression equates to complicity, and Nigeria can no longer afford to remain silent. The people must raise their voices in unison, calling for a fair and impartial judicial system—one that protects the innocent and punishes the guilty without bias.
The world is watching Nigeria, and the judiciary is under scrutiny. The decision to execute Sunday Jackson will not go unnoticed, and the repercussions of this miscarriage of justice will reach far beyond his case. If the Nigerian government fails to act, it will solidify its reputation as a nation that has forsaken the rule of law in favor of selective persecution. Such an inaction will convey that self-defense is a crime, that justice is reserved for the powerful, and that the lives of ordinary Nigerians hold no value.
This is not the Nigeria that its citizens deserve. It is time to demand genuine justice. The fate of Sunday Jackson is emblematic of the fate of every Nigerian who values their right to life and security. His life must be spared, and the judiciary held accountable. Anything less would betray the very principles that justice is meant to uphold.
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