- Abuja court fixed June 3 for Owo church attack judgment.
- DSS is prosecuting five suspects over the 2022 attack.
- Prosecution seeks conviction while defence requests acquittal
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Wednesday, June 3, for judgment in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the June 5, 2022, terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the defendants, identified as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, are being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over their alleged roles in the deadly attack.
Justice Emeka Nwite had reserved judgment last week after hearing the final arguments of both the prosecution and defence teams.
The case, which has attracted national attention due to the scale of the attack, is now set for judgment on Wednesday, according to reports.
During the adoption of final written addresses, prosecution counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to find the defendants guilty and impose the maximum punishment prescribed by law.
Adedipe argued that the prosecution had successfully established its case beyond reasonable doubt through evidence presented during the trial and the findings of security investigations.
He maintained that the evidence before the court clearly linked the defendants to the attack and reflected the commitment of security agencies to securing justice for victims of one of Nigeria’s deadliest attacks on worshippers.
The prosecution further submitted that the gravity of the offence warranted the highest penalty available under the law.
On the other hand, counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Mohammad, asked the court to dismiss the charges and discharge his clients.
Mohammad argued that the prosecution failed to prove the allegations against the defendants and urged the court to acquit them of all charges.
The trial commenced on August 1, 2025, after the DSS obtained an order for accelerated hearing of the case.
The June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation, with authorities launching extensive investigations to identify and prosecute those responsible.
All eyes are now on the Federal High Court as it prepares to deliver its verdict in the high-profile terrorism case.
