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From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Plateau State State High Court, Jos has fixed August 11 2026, to rule on an application challenging its jurisdiction to try four persons arraigned over their alleged involvement in the Palm Sunday Angwan Rukuba killings.
The quartet, Adamu Isa Alhassan, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, also known as Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, also known as Yaroro, alongside Ado Ibrahim, who is currently at large, had been arranged by Plateau State Government over their alleged involvement in the attack on Angwan Rukuba community in Jos North local government . Over 30 persons were killed in the attack.
The court will also, on the same day, rule on an application seeking permission by one of the defendants to be transferred from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), for medical attention.
The suspects are insisting that their case should be heard by the Federal High Court in line with the provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, M. I. Shaba, SAN, speaking at the resumed hearing of the suit instituted by the Plateau State government yesterday, urged the court to recuse itself, arguing that the defendants were facing terrorism-related charges which, under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, fell within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.
But the the Director of Civil Litigation in the Plateau State Ministry of Justice, Sabo Longji, who led the prosecuting team, opposed the application.
In a counter affidavit, Longji argued that the defendants were being prosecuted under the Plateau State Penal Code and not the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, making the State High Court the eligible to hear the matter.
Presiding Justice, Gedaliah Fwomyon, after hearing arguments from both parties, adjourned the case until August 11, 2026, for rulings on both the jurisdictional challenge and the application for the defendant’s transfer to JUTH for medical treatment.
