Court Takes Fresh Decision In Trial Of Owo Church Attack Suspects

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The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in the ongoing trial of five men being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) for their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022, attack on the St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

The decision was taken on Tuesday by Justice Emeka Nwite, who stated that the date to deliver judgment will be communicated to the affected parties.

Naija News reports that Justice Nwite reached the decision after hearing final arguments from lawyers for the prosecution and the defence.

Justice Nwite said the parties would receive notice from the court once the judgment is ready, noting that the notice could be within 24 hours.

In his final submission, counsel to the prosecution, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum sentence of death in view of the enormity of the crime they allegedly committed.

Adedipe argued that the prosecution had painstakingly established its case against the defendants through compelling evidence and detailed investigations, which he stressed reflected the determination of security agencies to ensure accountability for one of the deadliest attacks on innocent worshippers in Nigerian history.

However, counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Mohammad, prayed the court to discharge and acquit his clients on the grounds that the prosecution was unable to establish its case against them.

The five men facing prosecution are: Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.