Angwan Rukuba Killings: Plateau High Court to Rule on Jurisdiction Challenge, Medical Transfer Request August 11

The legal battle over the Angwan Rukuba killings took another turn on Wednesday as the Plateau State High Court fixed August 11, 2026, to rule on whether it has the jurisdiction to try four suspects facing charges over the deadly attack.

Justice Gedaliah Fwomyon, who is presiding over the case in Jos, also reserved the same date to decide on a separate application seeking the transfer of one of the defendants from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) for medical treatment.

During the hearing, counsel to the first and second defendants, M. I. Shaba (SAN), urged the court to decline jurisdiction. He argued that the charges against his clients were terrorism-related and, under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, should be heard exclusively by the Federal High Court.

Shaba maintained that the nature of the allegations placed the matter outside the jurisdiction of the Plateau State High Court, insisting that proceeding with the trial at the state level would be contrary to the provisions of the law.

The prosecution, however, disagreed with that position. Sabo Longji, Director of Civil Litigation in the Plateau State Ministry of Justice, filed a counter-affidavit arguing that the defendants were charged under the Plateau State Penal Code, not the Terrorism Act.

According to the prosecution, the charges before the court fall within the jurisdiction of the state judiciary, making the Plateau State High Court the appropriate venue for the trial.

After listening to submissions from both parties, Justice Fwomyon adjourned proceedings until August 11, when the court is expected to determine both the jurisdictional challenge and the request for the medical transfer of one of the accused persons.

The Plateau State Government had earlier arraigned Adamu Isa Alhassan, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (also known as Auwalu Dogo), Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (also known as Yaroro) and Ado Ibrahim, who remains at large, over their alleged roles in the Palm Sunday attack on Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area.

The attack claimed the lives of about 30 people, with the state government accusing the suspects of offences linked to the incident. While the prosecution insists the case is properly before the Plateau State High Court, the defence continues to argue that the Federal High Court is the only court with the authority to hear terrorism-related cases.