Federal High Court Reserves Judgment in Owo Church Attack Trial
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reserved judgment in the terrorism trial of five men accused of complicity in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.
The defendants: Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar, were arraigned by the Department of State Services (DSS) on a nine-count charge bordering on terrorism.
Justice Emeka Nwite announced the decision after counsel for both the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses. He informed parties that judgment would be delivered on a date to be communicated, possibly within 24 hours.
In his closing submission, prosecution counsel Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum penalty of death, stressing the gravity of the alleged crime and its devastating impact on worshippers.
Defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad countered, praying the court to discharge and acquit the accused persons. He argued that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt, insisting that the evidence presented was insufficient to sustain a conviction.
The Owo church attack left 41 worshippers dead and over 140 injured, making it one of the deadliest terror incidents in Nigeria in recent years.
The DSS opened trial on August 1, 2025, calling 11 witnesses to substantiate its allegations.
The court admitted confessional statements of the defendants after a trial-within-trial confirmed they were voluntarily made.
The DSS had earlier sought and obtained an accelerated hearing, underscoring the national security implications of the case.
