Plateau Court Adjourns Hausa Indigeneship Appeal To October 29

A Plateau State High Court in Jos has adjourned further proceedings in the appeal over the recognition of Hausa residents born and raised in Jos North as indigenes of the local government area.

Justice C. Donglong fixed October 29, 2026, for the next stage of the matter after hearing arguments on a preliminary objection involving the appearance of a new legal team for the respondents.

The appeal challenges the court’s June 9 judgment, which held that a Hausa person born and raised in Jos North is entitled to be recognised as an indigene of the area.

The original suit was filed by Fatima Baba Akawu and her father, Baba Alhaji Akawu, against the Jos North Local Government Council after the council declined to issue Fatima an indigene certificate.

The claimants asked the court to determine whether Fatima, by virtue of being born in Jos North to a father described as a bona fide indigene of the area, was entitled to an indigene certificate despite her Hausa ethnic origin.

They also asked the court to decide whether refusing her application while issuing a residence certificate to her amounted to discrimination.

Daily Trust reported that the June 9 decision has drawn strong reactions in Plateau, where questions of identity, residence and local recognition remain politically sensitive.

Sources: Daily Post, Daily Trust