The federal high court in Abuja has fixed June 3 for judgment in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo state.
The attack, which occurred on June 5, 2022, left at least 41
worshippers dead and more than 140 others injured.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is prosecuting the
five defendants over their alleged roles in the attack.
The defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris,
Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
The development comes a week after Emeka Nwite reserved
judgment in the case following the adoption of final written addresses by the
prosecution and defence.
At the last hearing, Nwite said a date for judgment would be
communicated to the parties.
The matter has now been scheduled for judgment on Wednesday.
The DSS had, at the close of trial, urged the court to
convict the defendants and impose the maximum punishment prescribed by law.
Ayodeji Adedipe, counsel to the prosecution, argued that the
evidence before the court established the defendants’ involvement in the attack
and warranted a sentence of death.
However, Abdullahi Mohammad, counsel to the defendants,
asked the court to discharge and acquit his clients, contending that the
prosecution failed to prove the allegations against them.
The trial commenced on August 1, 2025, after the DSS secured
an order for accelerated hearing.
During the proceedings, the prosecution called 11 witnesses
in a bid to establish the terrorism allegations against the defendants.
The court also admitted the defendants’ confessional
statements after conducting a trial-within-trial to determine whether the
statements were made voluntarily.
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