The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed today Wednesday, June 3, 2026, for the final judgment in the trial of five suspected terrorist accused of the bloody attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.
The court had earlier reserved judgment yesterday, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, after both the prosecution and defense lawyers adopted their final written addresses. Justice Emeka Nwite notified the parties that the judgment would be delivered on June 3, reports The Guardian.
The five accused persons- Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47), were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) and charged to court on a nine-count terrorism charge.
The charges stem from the June 5, 2022, attack on the church that claimed the lives of at least 41 worshippers and injured 69 others. The attackers threw explosives towards the altar, scattering the congregation and causing significant casualties.
The DSS accused the defendants of being members of the Al Shabab terrorist group, with cells in Kogi State, and of planning and executing the attack. The defendants allegedly attended meetings between May 30 and June 4, 2022, where they conspired to carry out the assault.
During the trial that began on August 1, 2025, the prosecution called 11 witnesses to establish the defendants’ involvement. The court also admitted the defendants’ confessional statements after a trial-within-trial confirmed they were voluntarily given.
While the accused denied involvement, they testified on their own behalf but did not call other witnesses. The prosecution, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ayodeji Adedipe, urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the death penalty, citing the severity of their actions.
Defense counsel Abdullahi Mohammad asked the court to discharge and acquit the accused, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Security around the Federal High Court has also been tightened as the accused were brought into the courtroom under heavy protection by the DSS, Civil Defense, and police. Strict security checks were conducted on all persons entering the court premises to prevent breaches.
The accused face charges including possession of IEDs and AK-47 rifles, causing death and grievous bodily harm, and conspiracy to commit terrorism, all punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Penalties for conviction range from death to life imprisonment.
