The Federal High Court in Abuja has reserved judgment in the trial of five men accused of involvement in the deadly attack on St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left at least 41 worshippers dead and more than 140 others injured.
Justice Emeka Nwite fixed judgment for a date to be communicated to both parties after lawyers for the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses.
Addressing counsel after the proceedings, the judge said the court would notify them once the judgment was ready, adding that such notice could come within 24 hours.
The trial, which was fast-tracked at the request of the Department of State Services (DSS), has drawn national attention because of the scale of the attack, regarded as one of the deadliest assaults on a place of worship in Nigeria’s recent history.
In his final address, counsel to the DSS, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), urged the court to convict the defendants and impose the maximum punishment prescribed by law.
“The defendants should be convicted and sentenced to death because of the gravity of the offence,” Adedipe argued before the court.
However, defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad asked the court to acquit the accused persons, insisting that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“The prosecution has not established the allegations against the defendants,” Mohammad submitted, urging the court to discharge and acquit them.
The defendants standing trial are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris and Momoh Otuho Abubakar.
During the proceedings, the DSS called 11 witnesses in an effort to establish the charges against the suspects. The court also admitted confessional statements allegedly made by the defendants after conducting a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were obtained voluntarily.
The attack occurred during a Sunday Mass at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, when gunmen stormed the premises and opened fire on worshippers, killing dozens and injuring scores more. The incident sparked widespread condemnation within Nigeria and abroad, while security agencies launched extensive investigations and operations to track down those responsible.
Then Ondo State Governor, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, described the massacre as a “deliberate, vicious and calculated assault on peace-loving people” and called for stronger security measures to protect vulnerable communities. He also coordinated emergency response efforts and support for victims and affected families.
Following investigations, the DSS arrested and arraigned the five suspects now awaiting judgment in the case.
