…Court Finds Defendants Guilty on Nine Terrorism Charges
….Fifth Suspect Acquitted, Ondo Governor Commends Verdict
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced four terrorists to death by hanging for their roles in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, which claimed the lives of more than 40 worshippers and left over 100 others injured.
The convicts, identified as Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), and Abdulhaleem Idris (25), were found guilty on a nine-count charge bordering on terrorism, conspiracy, kidnapping, hostage-taking, and murder.
The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned the five defendants before the court, alleging their involvement in the deadly attack that shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation from Nigerians and the international community.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Nwite held that the prosecution successfully proved its case against the four convicts beyond reasonable doubt. He consequently found them guilty on all counts and imposed the maximum penalty prescribed by law.
The judge ruled that the convicts were members of a proscribed terrorist organisation identified as Al-Shabab, described during the proceedings as an affiliate of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). The court also found them culpable in the planning and execution of the attack, as well as the killing and abduction of innocent worshippers.
However, the court discharged and acquitted the fifth defendant, Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), after holding that the prosecution failed to establish his involvement in the offences.
The trial, which commenced on August 1, 2025, featured extensive evidence presented by the DSS, including witness testimonies, investigations, and confessional statements admitted by the court after a trial-within-trial to determine their voluntariness.
During the proceedings, one of the convicted persons, Omeiza, narrated how he was arrested by DSS operatives in Lokoja, Kogi State, on August 1, 2022. Testifying through an interpreter, he claimed he was arrested alongside two others and later detained for interrogation over the Owo church attack.
According to his testimony, DSS officials obtained personal information from the suspects and subsequently questioned them regarding the massacre. He also disclosed that his elder brother was later arrested and detained with him during the investigation.
In his final address, counsel to the DSS, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, arguing that the prosecution had presented overwhelming evidence linking the defendants to one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Nigeria’s recent history.
The prosecution maintained that painstaking investigations and credible evidence established the culpability of the defendants and underscored the commitment of security agencies to securing justice for the victims.
Defence counsel, Abdullahi Mohammad, had, however, urged the court to acquit the defendants, contending that the prosecution failed to sufficiently establish its allegations against them.
Reacting to the judgment, Ondo State Governor, , described the verdict as a triumph of justice, the rule of law, and accountability.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the governor commended the judiciary, security agencies, and the prosecution team for their diligence and commitment to ensuring that those responsible for the heinous attack were brought to justice.
“This judgment sends a clear message that those who take innocent lives will face the full weight of the law, no matter how long it takes,” the governor stated.
Aiyedatiwa also praised the resilience of the people of Owo and the Catholic community for remaining steadfast despite the trauma caused by the attack. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working closely with security agencies to strengthen intelligence gathering and safeguard lives and property across the state.
The governor expressed hope that the judgment would provide some measure of closure for the victims’ families and the affected community, while praying for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in the tragic incident.
