Olushola Omogbehin
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered the remand of five suspected men that attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The attack which occurred on the sad day of 5th June 2022, left more than 40 people dead and over 100 injured.
The suspects are Idris Omeiza, 25; Al Qasim Idris, 20; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25; and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47.
The nine-count charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, was dated and filed on July 23 by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The charge alleged that the defendants who were members of the Al Shabab terrorist group, operated a cell in Kogi State and planned the Owo church attack during meetings held in Kogi and Ondo between 30 May and 4 June 2022.
The prosecuting counsel says the defendants detonated improvised explosive devices and used AK-47 rifles that killed worshippers including Onuoha Deborah, Ajanaku John, Onileke Esther and John Bosede and injuring more than 100 others.
According to him, the alleged offences fall under various provisions of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
At the arraignment, prosecution lawyer Calistus Eze told the court the charges were filed during the judicial vacation and sought permission to proceed.
“The summon ex-parte was dated and filed on July 28 and we pray the court for an order allowing the charge to be taken within the vacation period,” he said.
Justice Nwite granted the request and the charges were read in court.
Mr Eze also requested that the defendants remain in State Security Service custody until trial.
Defence lawyer Abdullahi Muhammad did not object but requested the court to give them access to their relatives and legal representatives.
“The defendants have been in custody since 2022 and we have not had access to them,” he told the court.
Reacting to this, Mr Eze said that access is permitted when a formal letter is submitted specifying date and time. He added that the defendants would have the facilities needed to prepare their defence now that the trial process has started.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until August 19 for commencement of trial and ordered them to be remanded at the State Security Service custody (SSS) custody.
