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Five alleged members of the Al-Shabab terrorist group, standing trial over the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to release them on bail from the custody of the Department of State Services pending the conclusion of their trial.
The defendants, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al-Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, are facing a nine-count charge bordering on terrorism.
According to the Federal Government, the defendants masterminded the deadly attack that claimed more than 40 lives and left over 100 worshippers injured.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/301/2025, the government alleged that the suspects, said to belong to an Al-Shabab terrorist cell in Kogi State, stormed the church with IEDs and AK-47 rifles “in furtherance of their religious ideology.”
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them on August 11.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the prosecution’s request to conceal the identities of witnesses in the case.
Prosecution counsel, Dr. Calistus Eze, told the court that protecting the witnesses was necessary “in view of the sensitive nature of the case” and the possible threats they could face.
Following a no-objection stance by the defence, the judge ordered that the witnesses’ names and identities should not be disclosed during the trial.
Meanwhile, counsel to the defendants, Abdullahi Muhammad, urged the court to admit his clients to bail, insisting that they were prepared to produce “reliable and responsible persons” as sureties.
He assured the court that the accused would not abscond, stressing that they were ready to face trial.
But the prosecution strongly opposed the request. Dr. Eze argued that granting bail would pose serious risks, given the gravity of the offence.
“The nature of the charge and the possible outcome of the trial is enough to motivate the defendants to flee,” he submitted, urging the court to reject the bail plea and order an accelerated hearing instead.
The Federal Government further informed the court that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had granted a fiat for a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adedeji Adedipe, to lead the prosecution team.
The court had earlier ordered the DSS to allow the defendants access to their lawyers and family members to prepare their defence.
Justice Nwite, sitting as a vacation judge, adjourned the matter to deliver a ruling on the bail application.
Some of the counts in the charge against the defendants, read, “That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar adults, males, with others still at large, sometime in 2021, did join and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group, with cell in Kogi State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 30th May, 2022; 37 June, 2022 and 4 June, 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA, Kogi State and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings, where you agreed to and planned for the terrorist attack, which you carried out on 5
June, 2022, at St. Francs Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State, with intent to further your religious ideology and while armed with IEDs and AK 47 rifles, did attack worshippers, held them hostage and in the process, caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther and Ogungbade Peter and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of the same Act.
“That you, Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, adults, males, with others still at large, on 05/06/2022, had in your possession IEDs and AK 47 rifles, with which you attacked worshippers at St. Francis Catholic Church, held them hostage, killed over 40 persons and caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(1)(2) and (3)(v) and punishable under Section 24(1) and (2) of TPPA, 2022.”
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