A Federal High Court will rule September 10 on bail for Owo church attack suspects.
The five accused face terrorism charges over the 2022 massacre that killed dozens.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 10, 2025, for ruling on the bail application filed by five men accused of belonging to the Al-Shabaab terrorist group and carrying out the 2022 attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
Justice Emeka Nwite announced the date after hearing arguments from both the defense and prosecution during Tuesday’s proceedings. The defendants Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar were brought to court under heavy security provided by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Their counsel, A. G. Ibrahim, told the court that the accused had spent three years in detention without trial and insisted that they had secured “reliable and responsible” sureties to guarantee their attendance if granted bail.
The DSS, however, opposed the request. Its counsel, Dr. C. S. Eze, argued that the gravity of the charges posed a high risk of flight if the accused were released. He urged the court to deny bail and maintain their detention in DSS custody. After listening to submissions from both sides, Justice Nwite reserved ruling until September 10.
Meanwhile, the commencement of the substantive trial was delayed after the DSS informed the court that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adedeji Adedipe, had been retained to lead the prosecution. The agency said it had already sought a fiat from the Attorney-General of the Federation authorizing Adedipe to take over proceedings.
The defendants face multiple counts under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The charges accuse them of joining an Al-Shabab cell in Kogi State in 2021, planning and executing the June 5, 2022, Owo church massacre, and possessing weapons, including AK-47 rifles and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
According to the charge sheet, the attack left over 40 worshippers dead and more than 100 others injured. Victims listed in the counts include John Blessing, Esther Nselu, and Peter Ogungbade, among others.
The prosecution also alleges that the defendants held secret meetings in Kogi and Ondo states to plan the assault before detonating explosives inside the church. They are accused of causing grievous bodily harm, unlawful possession of explosives, and acts intended to cause death.
If found guilty, the accused face life imprisonment or the death penalty, depending on the specific counts.
