Angwan Rukuba Killings: Court to Rule on Jurisdiction, Medical Transfer August 11

A Plateau State High Court in Jos has scheduled August 11, 2026, to deliver rulings on two critical applications concerning the Angwan Rukuba killings trial. The first application challenges the court's jurisdiction to hear the case, with the defense arguing that terrorism-related charges necessitate a Federal High Court trial under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Counsel for the first and second defendants, Mr. M. I. Shaba, SAN, urged the court to decline jurisdiction. He contended that the nature of the charges places the matter exclusively within the purview of the Federal High Court. However, the prosecution, led by Mr. Sabo Longji, Director of Civil Litigation in the Plateau State Ministry of Justice, opposed this, presenting a counter-affidavit. Longji asserted that the defendants are being prosecuted under the Plateau State Penal Code, not the federal terrorism act, thus affirming the State High Court's competence.

“

the charges against his clients were terrorism-related and should be handled by the Federal High Court.

Simultaneously, the court will rule on a separate application seeking the transfer of one defendant from the Department of State Services (DSS) custody to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for necessary medical treatment. The judge, Justice Gedaliah Fwomyon, adjourned the proceedings after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense on these matters. The accused, Adamu Isa Alhassan, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (Auwalu Dogo), and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (Yaroro), face charges connected to the Palm Sunday attack on Angwan Rukuba, which resulted in approximately 30 fatalities. A fifth defendant, Ado Ibrahim, remains at large.

“

the defendants were being prosecuted under the Plateau State Penal Code and not under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, making the State High Court competent to hear the matter.