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The trial of five suspected attackers of the Angwan Rukuba community of Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State on Palm Sunday was stalled on Thursday due to the failure of the suspects to produce a counsel.

As a result, the case has been adjourned to 30th April, 2026, to enable the suspects to produce a counsel and so that they can also take their plea.

The attack killed over 20 people, and thereafter, investigations commenced, thereby leading to the arrest of the suspects.

At the court, Solicitor General of Plateau State, Joel Tagven, requested that the defendants should be remanded in the Department of State Security (DSS) custody for them to continue their investigation.

‘The proceedings for today ought to have been the taking of the plea of the defendants, but could not hold due to the fact that they were not represented by counsel,’ he said.

Arrested suspects are innocent – Families, traders

Relatives and business associates of four suspects arrested by the Department of State Services over the March 28 killings in Angwan Rukuba have denied their involvement, describing the allegations as false and damaging.

The suspects-Isa Umar Ibrahim, Auwalu Abubakar, Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, and Adamu Isa Alhassan-were arrested between April 3 and 10, 2026, and charged with criminal conspiracy to commit terrorism under the Plateau State Penal Code.

However, at a press conference in Jos, relatives maintained that the accused are traders who conduct their daily business at Farin Gada Market and have no links to the attack.

Mika’ilu Muhammad, speaking on behalf of Musa Abubakar Ibrahim, said DSS operatives searched his brother’s home thoroughly but found no weapons or incriminating evidence.

Similarly, Abubakar Umar Ibrahim, younger brother of Adamu Isa Alhassan, said his sibling was arrested at the market and later taken home, where property was damaged during a search that yielded nothing.

Jamilu Musa, a relative of Auwalu Abubakar, also said security operatives found no evidence during a search of his house and denied the family access to him after his arrest.

Adding weight to the claims, Ibrahim Baffa, Deputy Chairman of the cabbage section at Farin Gada Market, described the suspects as long-standing members known for peaceful conduct.

He further claimed that one of the suspects helped rescue eight Christian women during the crisis and handed them over to soldiers.

A Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has fixed June 9, 2026, for ruling in the trial of the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, over alleged fraud.

Mamman, who declared his governorship bid for Taraba State a few days ago, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge before Justice James Omotosho.

Daily Trust reports that the charges border on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73.

During the court proceedings on Thursday, Mamman’s counsel, Femi Atteh, explained that he filed his final written address on behalf of the defendant on April 1, 2026, and urged the court to discharge and acquit Mamman.

But in his response, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to convict the defendant on all 12-count charges.

‘Your lordship, what is important is the fact that funds left a particular government account and went to a BDC (Bureau de Change) account.

‘The BDC came before my lord to say that it received this money. The BDC went ahead to tell your lordship how he was carrying money to the defendant’s house.

‘The boy, who was working with the defendant, also came to testify how he was receiving some of these monies on the instruction of the defendant.

‘How else is the prosecution supposed to prove this matter? The evidence before your lordship is clear,’ he said.

The prosecution counsel, therefore, urged the court to discountenance the submission of the defence and convict the defendant accordingly.

After the duo’s argument, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till June 9, 2026, for judgment.

Are you going on Hajj? Do you plan to put on the Ihram in one of the designated places, otherwise known as Miqaat? Are you looking forward to entering the Sacred Mosque (Al-Haram) in Makkah and performing the Tawaf (circumambulation) round the Ka’aba? Do you plan to go out of your abode in Makkah on the 7th and 8th of the month of Dhul Hajj in order to camp in Mina? Do you plan to camp on Mount Arafah on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah in order to relive the day on which the Prophet delivered that memorable speech? Do you plan to experience, ahead of time, the day of resurrection when humanity, ‘white’, ‘black’, ‘yellow’, ‘red’, rich and poor would stand in front of Allah, in nudity, to account for their actions, inactions, deeds and misdeeds while on earth?

If your response to the above is yes, then it would be useful for both you and me to prepare as follows for the journey to Saudi Arabia. In the first instance, the Prophet (upon him be peace and blessings of Allah) admonishes us that before we embark on journeys the like of which you now intend, we should pause and consider the possibility that the journey could be the last one on earth for us and, by implication, the beginning of the eternal one to the Almighty. Thus, an intending pilgrim should repent of all sins she has committed before stepping inside the aircraft. If the sin is an infraction against the injunction of Allah, a sin you committed and about which only Allah is a witness (and Allah is enough a witness over His creatures), you seek His forgiveness, regret deeply for the error and enter a covenant with your Creator on your resolve, should He preserve your life till you return from Hajj, that you would not travel that same heinous path again.

Now, if the sin you committed is against a fellow human being, perhaps it is a sin against your parents, your co-worker, your neighbour, then you have two pathways to follow. First, if the sin has to do with the honour (‘ird) of the person in question, you should seek the latter’s forgiveness in person before you begin to seek the forgiveness of your Creator. Now, if the sin has to do with something physical, perhaps it’s money you unjustly appropriated or something that you know does not belong to you, you have to return the thing to its owner, seek his forgiveness and thereafter, seek the redemption of your Creator. You should do all these because your Hajj would likely be invalid while somebody’s property is unjustly under your care. You should not embark on a spiritual journey to Makkah while your soul is enshackled by the iniquitous acquisition of worldly properties and gains.

Having said the above, it needs no emphasis to state that the hajj rites that would be accepted by Almighty from His servants are the ones that are performed with lawful means. In other words, a governor who diverts public funds into providing Hajj seats to some Muslims with the intention to maintain their political patronage would suffer double jeopardy. He would be held to account for bad governance of the state under his watch; he would equally be held to account for transacting in spiritual corruption.

Once you are done with this, the next thing for you to do is to write your will. The Prophet says: ‘It is the duty of a Muslim who has anything to bequeath not to let two nights pass without writing a Will about it.

Brethren, going to Hajj presupposes that you are prepared to be tested by Allah. In other words, even though Hajj means the embarkation on the best spiritual journey for the Muslims, it is equally, and quite ironically, the greatest platform upon which our claims as Muslims, our posturing as servants of the Almighty, can come under the greatest test and scrutiny. Thus, while packing your luggage, do not forget to include patience and perseverance; as you are stepping on the airplane, do not forget your coat of piety and sacrifice. Brethren, was it not in paradise that Prophet Adam and Hawa (Upon them be peace) were tested? If you are given to quarrel, if you are the type who always wants people to say sorry to him when he is stepped upon, if you are highly irascible and very temperamental, then you have to re-read your resolve to embark on the journey to Makkah and Madinah. Hajj is the only journey on earth that provides humans with the greatest opportunity to be successful here and in the hereafter. Thus, much care is necessary so that the opportunity may be maximised.

Dear pilgrim, constantly keep in mind that the Hajj exercise is first and foremost a spiritual assignment; it is not for tourism. Avoid the temptation, therefore, to turn your tawaf, sa’y between Safa and Marwa, and the standing on Arafah into tourist exercises. Avoid the temptation to engage in frivolities. Bear this the importance of these rites so that you may have the full measure of their treasures. Again, bear this in mind that this may be the last time you will have the chance to visit the Ka’aba. Remember to pray for your country, Nigeria. May your supplications and ours be accepted.

The Federal University Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, has unveiled a book documenting the leadership journey, academic contributions and institutional reforms of its immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Umaru Pate.

The publication, titled ‘Umaru Pate: An Icon of Visionary Leadership, Knowledge, Transformation and Impactful Change,’ was presented in Abuja yesterday, drawing academics, policymakers and stakeholders from Nigeria’s education and media sectors.

Speaking at the event, the book’s editor and Pro-Chancellor of FUK, Prof. Williams Olu-Aderounmu, said the work was designed to preserve institutional memory and highlight models of effective leadership within the Nigerian university system.

Olu-Aderounmu described Pate as a transformational academic leader whose tenure significantly strengthened governance structures and institutional development at the university.

According to him, the 11-chapter book explores Pate’s early life, academic progression, leadership philosophy, public engagement and reform initiatives that shaped the university’s growth.

‘This book is not merely a compilation of essays. It is a carefully curated scholarly testament.

‘It is an enduring intellectual monument that captures the light, the philosophy, leadership trajectory, and transformative impact of an extraordinary academic, administrator, reformer, and nation-builder.

‘Today’s event transcends ceremonial celebration. It is fundamentally an exercise in academic documentation, institutional memory preservation, and the elevation of exemplary leadership as a subject of scholarly interrogation,’ he said.

He added that Pate’s administration recorded notable improvements in infrastructure, strengthened academic programmes, enhanced research culture and improved staff morale across the institution.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, said the publication offers an opportunity to reflect on the values that defined Pate’s leadership style and professional contributions.

Ribadu noted that Pate’s influence extended beyond academia into media practice, public policy and journalism ethics, particularly in promoting responsible reporting during elections and security challenges.

He said Pate’s research contributions in media and governance helped advance peacebuilding efforts by reducing misinformation and promoting balanced reporting in sensitive national contexts.

According to him, the former vice-chancellor also played a key role in strengthening mass communication education in Nigeria through sustained engagement with regulatory frameworks, helping institutions adapt to the evolving media landscape.

Ribadu described the book as a valuable reference for scholars, administrators and emerging leaders seeking practical models of ethical and service-driven leadership in higher education.

In his remarks, Prof. Pate expressed gratitude to colleagues, mentors and collaborators, describing the recognition as a collective acknowledgement of shared efforts toward advancing scholarship and national development.

He emphasised that leadership must be anchored on transparency, credibility and service to society, while thanking the Federal Government for the opportunity to serve as vice-chancellor.

Pate also urged the university community to consolidate on existing gains and sustain the progress achieved during his tenure.