Plateau Court Rules State High Courts Can Try Terrorism Cases

On Tuesday, Justice Gedeliah Fwomyon of the Plateau State High Court ruled that state high courts have the jurisdiction to try terrorism suspects, addressing a jurisdictional objection from four defendants arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) for their alleged involvement in the Palm Sunday attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, which resulted in approximately 30 fatalities. The defendants, Adamu Alhassan Isa, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar (also known as Auwalu Dogo), Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (popularly called Yaroro), and Ado Ibrahim (who is reportedly at large), were being prosecuted under terrorism-related charges.

The defense argued that such cases should only be tried in federal courts under the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act (TPPA). However, Justice Fwomyon stated that the Act does not prevent state high courts from hearing terrorism cases and affirmed that both the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly can legislate on terrorism.

The judge also denied a request from Auwalu Abubakar to be transferred to Jos University Teaching Hospital for medical treatment. The case is set for further proceedings on October 15 and 21, 2026.