Owo church attack trial: Court reserves judgment as DSS seeks death penalty for five suspects

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

The Department of State Services (DSS) brought a nine-count terrorism charge against Idris Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Abubakar, defendants, over the deadly assault that shocked the nation.

Trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, announced the decision after counsel to both the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses and advanced their closing arguments.

He said judgment would be delivered on a date to be communicated to the parties, adding that notice could be issued within 24 hours once ready.

Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, Prosecuting counsel, urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum penalty, arguing that the gravity of the offence justified the death sentence.

However, Abdullahi Mohammad, defence counsel, asked the court to discharge and acquit the defendants, contending that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

It would be recalled that in June 2022, an attack left 41 worshippers dead and more than 140 others injured.

The DSS called 11 witnesses during the trial, which commenced on August 1, 2025, to establish its allegations against the defendants.

The court had earlier admitted confessional statements made by the defendants following a trial-within-trial to determine their voluntariness.

The DSS had also secured an accelerated hearing for the case, which the court granted at the commencement of proceedings.