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Fresh Delay In Angwan Rukuba Terrorism Case Sparks Tension.
A High Court in Jos, Plateau State, has scheduled July 1 and 2, 2026, for the definite hearing of the terrorism case arising from the Angwan Rukuba killings, involving four defendants facing charges of terrorism and related offences.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The case was heard on Thursday before Justice Gidelia Fomyon of Court 9 during a Case Management Conference conducted under the provisions of Order 4 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2024 and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Plateau State Attorney General, Philemon Daffi, led the prosecution team on behalf of the state government. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mustapha Shaba Ibrahim, represented the first and second defendants, while M.M. Salihu appeared for the third defendant and M.B. Abdullahi represented the fourth defendant. The four defendants standing trial are Isa Umar Ibrahim, Adamu Isa Alhassan, Auwalu Abubakar, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim. During proceedings, Daffi informed the court that the matter was slated for case management and that the prosecution was fully prepared. He adopted the prosecution’s case management form filed on May 17, 2026, and urged the court to issue its report. Counsel for the defendants also confirmed readiness and adopted their respective responses already submitted before the court. The defence teams noted that their filings were made between May 6 and May 7, 2026. During the session, the court observed that some of the defendants had pending applications challenging its jurisdiction to hear the case. Defence lawyers argued that their preliminary objections should be addressed alongside the substantive matter at the conclusion of the trial. However, the prosecution opposed that position, insisting that jurisdictional issues must first be determined to prevent what it described as a futile legal process. The Attorney General also urged the court to consider the high level of public interest in the matter and ensure an accelerated process by resolving the jurisdictional objections before the full trial begins. In his ruling, Justice Fomyon held that the case management stage had been properly concluded in line with legal provisions. He noted that while case management reports are typically expected within 60 days, the unique nature of the case and the significant public attention it has attracted required flexibility in fixing hearing dates. The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to May 26, 2026, for the presentation of the court’s case management report. He also fixed July 1 and 2, 2026, for definite hearing and witness appearances in the terrorism trial linked to the Angwan Rukuba killings.
On Wednesday, human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja under tight security. Reports indicate that Department of State Services (DSS) operatives restricted access to the courtroom, preventing lawyers, supporters, and associates of the activist from entering.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Public Access Challenged: Oshiok Philip, the National Secretary of the AAC, confronted the security officials, arguing that the courtroom is a public space and asserting that blocking citizens from observing legal proceedings violates constitutional rights.
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Criticism of the Agency: During the exchange, Philip cautioned the DSS against allowing the agency to be utilized as a tool against dissenting voices.
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Heightened Security: Operatives reportedly established a security perimeter around the courtroom, restricted public movement, and engaged in the intimidation of some of Sowore’s supporters.
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Context of Ongoing Tensions: This event followed a ruling two days prior by Justice Mohammed Umar, which ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
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Allegations of Force: Supporters and AAC members expressed outrage following reports that armed DSS operatives had forcibly removed Sowore from the courtroom on Monday while he was waiting for correctional officials, characterizing the actions as lawless and an affront to due process.
The Dangote Refinery has issued a formal denial regarding accusations that it exports petroleum products to Lomé, Togo, only for them to be re-imported into Nigeria. In a statement released Tuesday, the company dismissed these claims as an “ill-motivated web of falsehoods,” noting that it usually ignores baseless allegations but felt compelled to address this specific narrative for the record.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The refinery highlighted the following key points in its rebuttal:
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Commercial Illogic: The company stated that the idea of shipping products to Togo and back to Nigeria lacks both commercial sense and supporting trade flow data. It noted that the added expenses for shipping, storage, handling, and financing—estimated at $82 to $90 per metric tonne—would eliminate profit margins, making such a strategy financially unattractive.
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Core Objectives: Facilitating imports that compete directly with its own output would contradict the refinery’s primary goal of serving as a leading supplier for the Nigerian market.
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Contractual Prohibitions: The refinery’s sales contracts and tender terms explicitly forbid the resale or re-importation of its products into Nigeria.
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Traceability and Compliance: Dangote Refinery maintains rigorous records of all product sales, including details on vessels, counterparties, and destinations, asserting that any claim of knowingly facilitating re-importation contradicts its established compliance procedures.
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Strategic Alignment: The company emphasized that these allegations clash with its consistent advocacy for reducing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign fuel imports, which it argues burdens foreign exchange reserves and hinders local industrial growth.
Ultimately, the refinery concluded that there is no strategic or economic justification for such practices, reaffirming that the allegations are unsupported by the economics of the trade or its own internal controls.
Former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, is facing scrutiny following reports that he bypassed several summons from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding a certificate forgery probe. The investigation centers on allegations that Nnaji utilized fraudulent academic and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) credentials during his 2023 ministerial screening, a matter brought to light after a two-year investigation by Premium Times into his documents from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the NYSC.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Following his failure to respond to these summons, the ICPC reportedly initiated a search for the former minister, eventually securing an order from the Federal High Court in Abuja for his arrest to ensure he cooperates with the investigation.
Nnaji’s Response Prior to the court-ordered arrest, Nnaji publicly denied the existence of an ICPC investigation and alleged that the reports were politically motivated, blaming the Enugu State Government for spreading falsehoods. “Is it not me here? Where is the ICPC?” Nnaji stated, dismissing the claims.
Documented Invitations Contrary to the former minister’s denials, documentation obtained by Premium Times confirms formal efforts by the ICPC to reach him. A May 15 letter from the Head of the Chairman’s Special Task Force, Usman Ahmed, formally requested Nnaji’s presence at the Abuja headquarters on May 20, 2026. Because investigators could not locate him, the invitation was transmitted via email, text message, and WhatsApp.
After Nnaji did not appear for the initial interview, the commission moved the date to June 3, 2026, advising him to attend in the interest of a fair hearing. He reportedly failed to appear for this second appointment as well, leading the ICPC to seek the court-sanctioned arrest warrant. As of now, the ICPC has not released a formal public statement, and Nnaji continues to maintain his innocence.
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