Abuja court hears defendant deny authorising fundamental rights case in Owo attack trial

A defendant in the trial over the Owo church massacre has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he did not authorise the filing of a fundamental rights enforcement suit instituted in his name.

Jamiu Abdulmalik, the third defendant in the ongoing proceedings, made the claim during cross-examination by Ayodeji Adedeji, counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS).

At Thursday’s hearing, the prosecution presented a fundamental rights suit filed in December 2024 and sought to tender it in evidence.

Although Abdulmalik acknowledged that his name appeared on the application as the third applicant, he disowned the suit, stating that he had no knowledge of its filing.

He told the court that no one approached him in connection with the suit and maintained that he neither authorised nor participated in initiating the legal action.

His testimony appeared to contradict depositions contained in the affidavit supporting the application.

Abdulmalik further stated that neither his counsel nor any other party informed him about the existence of the suit, insisting that his statements in court reflected his personal knowledge.

The court subsequently admitted the fundamental rights application as Exhibit V.

Abdulmalik is standing trial alongside four others Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar over their alleged involvement in the June 5, 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left 41 worshippers dead and more than 140 injured.