“The facts surrounding the case raised significant questions about fairness, judicial reasoning and the fundamental right to self-defence,” he said.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has criticised the Supreme Court for upholding the death sentence of Sunday Jackson, a Christian farmer in Adamawa, who killed a Fulani herdsman, Ardo Bawuro, during a confrontation over a decade ago.
Ozekhome condemned the March 7 ruling, arguing it undermined the right to self-defence. “The facts surrounding the case raised significant questions about fairness, judicial reasoning and the fundamental right to self-defence,” he said.
He faulted the court’s view that Jackson should have fled after seizing the attacker’s dagger. “This position has been widely criticised as unrealistic and disconnected from the realities of violent encounters,” he added.
According to Ozekhome, Jackson acted instinctively in a life-threatening situation. “The stabbing occurred during a physical struggle,” he said.
He further accused the court of violating constitutional procedure by delivering judgment 167 days after arguments closed, instead of within the required 90 days.