Court sentences four convicted in Owo church attack to death by hanging

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted four of the five defendants standing trial over the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, sentencing them to death by hanging on multiple counts of terrorism-related offences.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday , Justice Emeka Nwite held that the Department of State Services (DSS) successfully proved its case against the first, second, third and fourth defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

The defendants were arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on terrorism, terrorism financing, unlawful possession of firearms, and their alleged involvement in the deadly attack that left dozens of worshippers dead and several others injured.

In his ruling, Nwite said the prosecution relied on eyewitness testimony, circumstantial evidence and confessional statements, all of which established the involvement of the four convicts in the attack.

The judge noted that although circumstantial evidence must form an unbroken chain leading to only one conclusion, the prosecution had presented compelling and credible evidence linking the defendants to the crime.

He particularly relied on the testimony of prosecution witness two (PW2), an eyewitness who identified some of the defendants as individuals seen inside the church carrying weapons and bags shortly before the attack.

According to the court, the DSS investigators conducted a thorough investigation that produced credible circumstantial evidence, which was corroborated by the defendants’ voluntary confessional statements admitted during trial.

Justice Nwite held that the prosecution established all nine counts against the first four defendants. However, he ruled that the evidence against the fifth defendant was insufficient to sustain a conviction and consequently discharged him.

For sentencing, the court imposed life imprisonment on the four convicts on count one and 20 years imprisonment each on counts two and three without an option of fine.

The court further sentenced the convicts to death by hanging on counts four, five, six, seven, eight and nine.

“The sentence of this court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May the Lord have mercy on your souls,” Justice Nwite declared.

The judgment brings to a close one of Nigeria’s most closely watched terrorism trials arising from the attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, which shocked the country and renewed concerns over security and violent extremism.

Details later…