The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, on a five-count amended charge bordering on an alleged breach of national security.
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‎El-Rufai, who was arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, pleaded not guilty to all counts.
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‎When the case was called, counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the matter was fixed for the defendant to take his plea.
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‎Aladedoye, however, told the court that a further amended five-count charge had been filed on April 13.
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‎The lawyer prayed the court to substitute it for the earlier three-count charge.
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‎Responding, counsel to El-Rufai, Oluwole Iyamu, said he had been served with the amended charge and did not oppose the application.
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‎The judge subsequently struck out the earlier three-count charge.
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‎After the counts were read, the former governor pleaded not guilty, and Aladedoye sought three consecutive trial dates.
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‎Iyamu, however, objected to the request for consecutive trial days for the commencement of trial.
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‎He submitted that since the defendant had been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), access to him within that period might be difficult.

According to him, the proposed schedule would not be in the best interest of the defence.
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‎Iyamu also informed the court of a bail application filed on February 17.
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‎However, the further affidavit in support of the bail application was not in the court file, prompting the judge to stand down the matter for Iyamu to address the issue.
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‎Upon resumption, the further affidavit was located.
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‎The DSS stated that it did not oppose the bail application.
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‎The prosecution then moved an application seeking an order to conceal the identities of two witnesses expected to testify.
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‎The DSS requested that:
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‎• The identities of the witnesses should not appear in public court records.
‎• Pseudonyms should be used during the trial.
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‎The prosecution argued that the witnesses’ families could be vulnerable to attack from persons sympathetic to El-Rufai.
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‎The defence opposed the request through an application, written address, and further affidavit, urging the court to dismiss it.
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‎The defence argued that it is the constitutional right of an accused person to know his accusers.
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‎It further submitted that there was no evidence before the court to suggest that El-Rufai had a cult-like following or posed any threat.
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‎Counsel stated that the defendant had dedicated his life to public service and warned that granting a blanket anonymity order could cause serious prejudice to the accused.
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‎The defence also applied for an order directing the prosecution to furnish it with proof of evidence to prepare for trial.
‎The prosecution opposed the request through a counter-affidavit.
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‎It argued that the materials sought by the defence were unrelated to the prosecution’s filed processes.
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‎The defence informed the court that it had also filed an application to quash the charge.
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‎• Legal arguments were raised that an application to quash cannot be brought after a plea has been taken.
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‎The prosecution filed a written address urging the court to dismiss the application for lacking merit.
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‎The case has been adjourned till May 18 for continuation of hearing.

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Suspected bandits this afternoon invaded two communities in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State and killed fourteen people in a sporadic shooting.

Eyewitness accounts said that the bandits stormed the Rubuki and Yargalma communities on motorcycles in the afternoon and started fire sporadic gunshots as well as setting ablaze houses with occupants, vehicles and food stuff in the troubled communities.

The bandits were said to have carried out the operation for about four hours before they left the communities.

It was learned that 9 people were killed at Rubuki while five others were killed at the Yargalma community.

They left eight people with different degrees of injuries who are now receiving medical care at the hospital.

Few weeks after President Bola Tinubu visited Plateau State and promised justice for victims of serial attacks, the State Government on Friday filed charges against five suspects arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with the March 2026 killings of several persons in Angwa- Rukuba, Jos North LGA of the state.

The government filed charges ofcriminal conspiracy to commit terrorism and other related offences against the quartet of Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar aka Auwalu Dogo, and Musa Abubakar Ibrahim aka Yaroro.

On his part, Adamu Isa Alhassan, who is one of the five defendants, was charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, illegal possession of firearms, and illegally dealing in arms and ammunition.

They were arrested between April 3 and April 10, 2026.The State Attorney General, Philemon Audu Daffi, who filed the charges, said the actions of the four men were “contrary to Section 269 and Punishable under Section 270 of the Penal Code Law of Plateau State, 2017.

“The particulars of offence read, “That you, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim of Riyom Local Government Area, Auwalu Abubakar (A.K.A Auwalu Dogo) of Jos North Local Government Area, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (A.K.A Yaroro) of Jos North Local Government Areas of Plateau State; and one Ado Ibrahim (Now at Large) of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, on the 28th day of March, 2025 at Farin Gada, Jos North Local Government Area, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit offences relating to terrorism when you planned, organized, facilitated, aided, and contributed money to carry out the attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court; you thereby committed the above offence.

“That you, Isa Umar Ibrahim, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim of Riyom Local Government Area, Auwalu Abubakar (A.K.A Auwalu Dogo) of Jos North Local Government Area, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim (A.K.A Yaroro) of Jos North Local Government Areas of Plateau State; and one Ado Ibrahim (Now at Large) of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State, on the 28th day of March, 2025 at Farin Gada, Jos North Local Government Area, did commit the offence of terrorism when you planned, organized, facilitated, aided, contributed and received money to carry out an attack in Angwan Rukuba, which led to the death of over thirty (30) people in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.

“Part of the particulars of Alhassan’s offence read, “That you Adamu Isah Alhassan together with one Ibrahim Musa (Now at Large), Imarana Sa’idu (Now at Large), Yusuf Sa’idu (Now at Large) Aliyu Usaini (Now at Large), Yahuza Adamu (Now at Large), Mubarak Yunusa (Now at Large), Yakubu, whose surname is unknown (Now at Large) and others also at large between the months of January to December, 2025 and in January, 2026 at Gwang, Rin Ward, Bachit and Bangai Villages of Riyom Local Government Area and Vom in Jos South Local Government Areas of Plateau State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit an illegal act to wit: Culpable Homicide Punishable with Death, when you armed yourselves with guns, attacked and killed the residents of Gwang, Rin Ward, Bachit and Bangai Villages of Riyom Local Government Area and Vom in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, and you thereby committed the above offence.”

Recall that, on Friday March 28, 2025, no fewer than 30 persons including children were killed after suspected herders attacked some communities in Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas and their environs, of the State.

Following the killings, many called for the cancellation of a state-,organized programme,”

Experience Plateau, Arts Meets Fashion.”Brushing aside the calls, Governor Caleb Mutfwang said cancelling the event would satisfy the agenda of the attackers.

Remarked the governor, “Last week, Bokkos Local Government Area came under renewed attack by murderers who are desperate to break our spirit.

“Many advised that we suspend this function, but we realized that these attackers intend to keep us in perpetual mourning, to force us indoors, and to shackle our collective spirit.

“But I said no! Life must go on. Plateau must move forward by the grace of God.

The genocide on the Plateau will come to an end. What is happening is not a farmer-herder conflict.

Let me be clear: it is genocide, and I urge the international community to take note,” declared the governor.

During the President’s visit early this month, he met with victims of the attacks, assessed the damage, and promised justice for those who suffered losses.

“We are optimistic that ongoing interventions will help restore lasting peace,” assured the President, even as he charged citizens of the state to be vigilant