UK govt acknowledges awareness of Sunday Jackson’s death sentence, campaigners rail against it at UN
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
*********************************
I appreciate you bringing this case to my attention. My officials are monitoring the case of Sunday Jackson. I can also confirm that British High Commission Abuja is aware of the Nigerian Supreme Court ruling on Sunday Jackson’s trial earlier this year.
The UK is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. The UK Government believes that use of the death penalty undermines human dignity and that any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable.
We lobby governments to establish moratoriums or abolish the death penalty, raise individual cases of British Nationals, and partner with world leading NGOs to reduce use of the death penalty.
We value dialogue with Nigeria on human rights. As Commonwealth partners we share important commitments and responsibilities on human rights and democracy.
The UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership, published in November 2024, includes our mutual commitment to protecting human rights. We discussed human rights as part of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership dialogue in July 2025.
I am deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, and I would like to express my sincere condolences for all those impacted.
The root causes of intercommunal violence are complex and often linked to land disputes, historical tensions, and criminal activity. While religion is not a causal factor in these conflicts, the impacts are felt acutely by religious communities, including hindering people’s ability to practice their faith freely ….
We remain committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a priority country under the new FoRB strategy, and I will continue to raise this issue in my future engagements with Nigeria – Lord Collins, British Minister for Africa.
*********************************
London has acknowledged its awareness of the death sentence on Adamawa farmer Sunday Jackson, is opposed to it and “monitoring” the case as it plays out at the Prerogative of Mercy Board of Adamawa State.
The new update came from Emmanuel Ogebe, the Nigerian-American international human rights activist in Washington who leads the Justice for Jackson global advocacy, quoting a letter written by the United Kingdom Government to Justice for Jackson Europe Coordinator Ife Akintunde.
The correspondence is from Cat Smith MP (Member of Parliament), who referenced and attached a letter written to him by British Minister for Africa, Lord Collins of Highbury, in response to a petition by Akintunde that Smith sent to him.
Ogebe added that he himself was at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last month where he also elevated the case of Jackson who was sentenced to death by hanging for successfully defending himself against a deadly attack on his farm by a Fulani herdsman.
His words: “We also brought this manifestly unjust sentence to the US congressional hearing on Nigeria just days after his final appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court in March.
“We are aware that Jackson’s clemency application is one of two before the Prerogative of Mercy Board of Adamawa State and believe that he has the strongest case made for clemency in the history of Nigeria inclusive of the deceased’s father and the presiding Justice of the Supreme Court panel Helen Ogunwumiju JSC that heard his appeal and dissented from the majority’s death sentence.”
Correspondence from Smith to Akintunde
From: Cat Smith
Sent: 10 September 2025 12:04
To: Ifeolu Akintunde
Subject: Sunday Jackson (Case Ref: ZA65814)
Dear Ifeolu
I attach a letter dated 8th August 2025 from Lord Collins, Minister for Africa, regarding Sunday Jackson.
The Minister states that the Government is monitoring this case, and that the Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances. He states that human rights were discussed with Nigeria earlier this year and indicates that he will continue to raise the issue of Freedom of Religion with Nigerian counterparts.
I hope you find this information helpful.
If you feel I can be of any further assistance on this or any other matter please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Yours sincerely,
Cat Smith
Member of Parliament for Lancaster and Wyre
47 Scotforth Road, Lancaster, LA1 4SA
| www.catsmith.co.uk
Correspondence from Collins to Smith
Lord Collins of Highbury
Minister for Africa
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Email: fcdo.correspondence@fcdo.gov.uk
Cat Smith MP
House of Commons London SW1A 0AA
Our ref: MC2025/27593
Your ref: ZA65814
27 August 2025
Dear Cat,
Thank you for your correspondence of 8 August, on behalf of your constituent, Dr Ifeolu Akitunde. I am replying as the Minister for Africa.
I appreciate you bringing this case to my attention. My officials are monitoring the case of Sunday Jackson. I can also confirm that British High Commission Abuja is aware of the Nigerian Supreme Court ruling on Sunday Jackson’s trial earlier this year.
The UK is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. The UK Government believes that use of the death penalty undermines human dignity and that any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable.
We lobby governments to establish moratoriums or abolish the death penalty, raise individual cases of British Nationals, and partner with world leading NGOs to reduce use of the death penalty.
We value dialogue with Nigeria on human rights. As Commonwealth partners we share important commitments and responsibilities on human rights and democracy.
The UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership, published in November 2024, includes our mutual commitment to protecting human rights. We discussed human rights as part of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership dialogue in July 2025.
I am deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, and I would like to express my sincere condolences for all those impacted.
The root causes of intercommunal violence are complex and often linked to land disputes, historical tensions, and criminal activity. While religion is not a causal factor in these conflicts, the impacts are felt acutely by religious communities, including hindering people’s ability to practice their faith freely.
The UK supports all affected communities, regardless of faith or ethnicity, and is working through programmes like SPRiNG (Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria) and the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership to promote peace, strengthen local institutions, and protect civilians.
We remain committed to defending Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Nigeria a priority country under the new FoRB strategy, and I will continue to raise this issue in my future engagements with Nigeria.
I hope this has served to address your constituents’ concerns.
Yours ever,
Lord Collins of Highbury
Minister for Africa
Read also:
