A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has scheduled August 11, 2026, to deliver its ruling on a preliminary objection challenging its jurisdiction to hear the case involving four persons standing trial over the Angwan Rukuba killings.

The court will also rule on the same day on an 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 attention.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, counsel to the first and second defendants, Mr. M. I. Shaba (SAN), argued that the Plateau State High Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter. He maintained that the charges against his clients border on terrorism, which falls within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

The prosecution, represented by the Director of Civil Litigation in the Plateau State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Sabo Longji, opposed the application, urging the court to dismiss the objection. He relied on a counter-affidavit filed on behalf of the state government.

After hearing arguments from both the defence and prosecution, the presiding judge, Justice Gedaliah Fwomyon, reserved ruling on both the jurisdictional challenge and the application for medical transfer until August 11, 2026.

The Plateau State Government had earlier arraigned Adamu Isa Alhassan, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (popularly known as Auwalu Dogo), Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (also known as Yaroro), and Ado Ibrahim, who remains at large, over their alleged involvement in the deadly attack.

The defendants are facing charges in connection with the Palm Sunday attack on Angwan Rukuba in Jos North Local Government Area, during which about 30 people lost their lives, making it one of the state’s most tragic incidents in recent years.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama has declared the United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, illegal
The court also ruled that diaspora chapters operated by Nigerian political parties have no legal backing under the country’s constitution.

Justice Peter Kekemeke, while delivering the judgment on Wednesday also invalidated the APC congress conducted in the United Kingdom, bringing to an end a legal dispute over whether Nigerian political parties can establish and operate branches outside the country.

The case was instituted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in a suit marked CV/187/2025.

It will be recalled that INEC had asked the court to determine the legality of the APC’s UK chapter and the congress conducted by the group.

The judge, in his decision, held that the Nigerian Constitution and existing electoral laws do not recognise diaspora chapters of political parties registered in the country. APC Party Merchandise

According to him, no political party has the authority to establish, maintain or conduct official party activities beyond Nigeria’s territorial boundaries.

The court ruled that while Nigerians living abroad are free to support political candidates and participate in political discussions relating to their country, political parties themselves cannot legally create formal structures or chapters outside Nigeria.

The judge held that any congress, meeting or official activity conducted under the platform of a diaspora chapter lacks constitutional validity. The court therefore nullified the APC UK congress and all actions arising from it.

Justice Kekemeke further held that political parties are not empowered to organise congresses for members residing outside Nigeria.

He said the constitution clearly defines the framework within which political parties can operate and does not provide room for the establishment of overseas chapters.