Owo church attack: Court reserves judgment

*DSS urges maximum punishment for terrorism

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgment in the trial of five men accused of masterminding the June 5, 2022 terrorist attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State.

This followed the conclusion of final arguments by the prosecution and defence.

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed judgment for a date to be communicated to all parties, stating that notices would be issued once the court was ready, possibly within 24 hours.

The trial, widely seen as a major test of Nigeria’s resolve against terrorism and mass violence, has been vigorously prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), which urged the court to impose the maximum penalty prescribed by law.

Lead prosecuting counsel, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), in a forceful final address, urged the court to convict the defendants and sentence them to death, stressing that the gravity and brutality of the attack demanded nothing less than the full weight of the law.

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.

Counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Mohammad, however, urged the court to discharge and acquit his clients, claiming that the prosecution failed to sufficiently prove its charges.

Standing trial for the church attack are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.

The June 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo shocked the nation and drew local and international condemnation.

World leaders, including Pope Francis, United Nations Secretary general, António Guterres, the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom, condemned the attacks. The UN scribe and the Archbishop of Canterbury described the attack as “heinous”

A large section of Nigerians, including then-President Muhammadu Buhari, then- Ondo Governor Rotimi Akerodolu, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, condemmed the attack, demanded justice for the victims and tougher stance against terrorism.

Then- President Buhari declared that “the country shall never give in to evil and wicked people”.

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